Archived decisions
ENVIRONMENT POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE
PART I
TERRESTRIAL TRUNKED RADIO (TETRA)
1. At its meeting in February 2004, the County Council referred the following Notice of Motion from Councillor B.D. Dash to the Environment Policy Review Committee for consideration:
"This Council note the concerns of planning authorities in our county by the proliferation of TETRA communication masts, particularly where masts are erected without planning permission. It also shares the concerns of local people who are worried about the risks to health presented by this technology. Accordingly, this Council will make representation through the Local Government Association and the County Councils' Network for reconsideration of current Government policy which is being imposed on a reluctant and apprehensive population".
2. This report outlines the information which the Committee took into account in reaching their recommendation. The Committee received presentations on behalf of the Hampshire Police Authority and Hampshire Constabulary who, in accordance with Home Office requirements, are being provided with a new communications service by MMO2, the Government's preferred contractor; Mr. Alan Meyer, on behalf of Mast Action UK, whose main objective is to ensure that masts required for this and similar communication systems are appropriately sited having regard to people's concerns; and Dr. Michael Clark representing the National Radiological Protection Board. The report of the County Council's Head of Science commenting particularly on the health issues and including information about planning responsibilities and related planning matters; the written information received from Mast Action UK, Mast Sanity and Powerwatch explaining their concerns; and a copy of the presentation made by Dr. Clark on what empirical research has shown, together with a wide range of background information compiled by the Head of Science are in the Members' Room. A number of local County Councillors attended to air their concerns and describe local issues which had been drawn to their attention by constituents.
3. The Committee was mindful of the benefits which TETRA was expected to bring to Hampshire Police in providing effective law enforcement services. Members were also mindful of the needs of other emergency services for whom the Home Office was expected to prescribe the use of TETRA in due course. In Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, the roll out for Hampshire Police was expected to be completed next year.
4. The Committee noted with dismay that, in order for the service provider to keep to their roll-out schedule, the statutory planning process had been circumvented, causing much concern for local people. The Committee regretted that current Government advice was that health issues should not be considered as part of the planning process so long as masts satisfied International Commission on Non Ionising Radiation Protection standards. The Committee was particularly mindful that the Court of Appeal had made judgments to the contrary as reported by Mr. Meyer. The Committee considered that this was not acceptable and that the County Council should support the district councils as Local Planning Authorities and the community at large in pressing the Government to review its approach to the issues. The Committee supported the thrust of the Private Member's Bill currently before Parliament which sought to impose more rigorous local scrutiny. Members acknowledged the advice given by Dr. Clark in relation to the implications of TETRA for people's health and welfare, noting that, whilst at this stage there was no evidence of unacceptable risks in relation to the community at large, some people were susceptible to adverse effects where TETRA and other communication systems had been brought into operation. The Committee was also mindful that other systems already in use in Europe and not attracting similar concerns, such as TETRAPOL, had not been preferred by Central Government.
4. In relation to the County Council's policy governing the use of its own land and property, the Committee was mindful of the precautionary approach adopted in 2002 by the Leader of the Council which promoted a general presumption against the use of its land and buildings for this purpose. The Committee considered that this approach should be reiterated with a specific presumption against TETRA masts and it recommends accordingly.
5. Taking all the issues into account the Committee submits the following:
RECOMMENDATION:
That this Council
· reiterates its precautionary approach to the siting of masts on its land and buildings with a general presumption against the siting of such masts as determined by the Leader of the County Council on 13 June 2002 and additionally a specific presumption against TETRA masts
· makes representations to the Local Government Association (LGA) and the County Councils Network (CCN) to press the Government to reassess its current policy so as to take the health concerns of the community into account more fully particularly in relation to the siting of masts at inappropriate locations having regard to population density and environmental impact and advises the LGA that it supports the thrust of the Town and Country Planning (Telecommunications Masts) Bill
· acknowledges that independent expert advice indicates that current knowledge suggests that TETRA does not pose a serious health hazard
· is mindful but regrets that current Government advice is that health issues should not be considered as part of the planning process so long as masts satisfy ICNIRP standards
· understands the needs of Hampshire Police for a system to enable them to provide effective law enforcement services and the needs of other emergency services, but also notes that TETRA is not the only system capable of providing that service
· notes that it has no statutory planning responsibilities in relation to the siting of TETRA communication masts but is concerned at any attempts by telecommunications companies to circumvent the planning process in developing communications systems in Hampshire
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