Met Police Provide Solution
For the past 3 years Orange have been seeking a ‘solution' to the holes in their network coverage in the Imber Court and Molesey areas, resulting in numerous street masts and mast proposals. Not to forget of course Vodafone, O2, T-Mobile and Hutchinson!
Hampton Court Way is an horrendous example of the proliferation of phone masts made possible by current planning legislation. Permitted development rights granted by National Government to mobile phone operators (in return for licence fees of £22.5bn) make our streets easy pickings for Orange et al. The ramification of masts on residential streets is obvious - the unacceptable proximity to family homes and schools. Which is why, when faced with a mast on the kerbside of Ember Lane (within metres of children's bedrooms, a children's playground, St Paul's Primary School, Our Lady's Nursery and Emberhurst School), the Ember Lane and surrounding communities have campaigned vociferously for 3 years for masts to be placed in responsible and prudent locations away from schools and homes.
By responding to community requests to permit Orange to site a mast at Imber Court (subject to planning permission), the Metropolitan Police have endorsed their position as a responsible and caring community stakeholder. The mast at Imber Court not only dispenses with a mast on Ember Lane, but also dispenses with a second mast amongst family homes. Whilst phone masts are controversial wherever they are sited, the rear of Imber Court is the alternative to masts amongst homes and schools. Orange have stated that if the application at Imber Court fails, they will continue to seek a solution in the area but would be back to square one. Families on Ember Lane, Embercourt Road, Ember Gardens and Aldersgrove, together with those of other residential streets surrounding Imber Court, would again be facing the prospect of masts close to children's bedrooms and classrooms.
The application (number 2006/0010) can be viewed on the Council's website, or at the Council's offices together with a montage of the 30m mast (including views from Ember Lane). Further details can be obtained from Planning Officer, Philip Andrews tel: 01372 474474. It is anticipated that the application will be considered at the March meeting of the North Area Sub Committee, and by the Town Planning Committee on April 18.
We urge Weston Green and Thames Ditton residents to write to the Council in support of the application as a matter of urgency.
Lorraine Sharp
Member of Anti-Ember Lane Mast
Community Campaign