Hospital mast plan


19 November 2007 09:13

Families have been urged to object to plans for a 6ft mobile phone mast on top of a community hospital roof in Norwich.

Telecommunications giant T-Mobile is to seek permission for the mast at Woodlands House at the Norwich Community Hospital in Bowthorpe Road, Norwich.

But Rupert Read, pictured, a Green city councillor for Wensum ward, is concerned the mast would be near patients at the hospital and their families who visit them.

He has called on people to use the pre-application consultation period as an opportunity to form a campaign against the mast.

Mr Read said: “T-Mobile has to take down its mast at the Earl of Leicester pub site in Dereham Road because of the new housing due to go up there, and that's why it wants to put up the mast at the hospital. While it's not the worst site in the world for a mast, I'm still concerned that it's going to be near people who are ill at the hospital, which is less than ideal.

“And it's also going to be quite close to where a number of my constituents live. We would rather they put masts up in cemeteries.

“As far as the Green party is concerned, we do not believe that more masts are needed.”

The Evening News has, through the Put Masts on Hold campaign, fought against the installation of masts near homes and schools until it is proved they are safe.

A T-Mobile spokesman said: “We are looking to improve our service to meet increased demand in that area. There are plenty of examples where masts are put on hospitals and schools. We always comply with very stringent national and international guidelines on safety.”

In 2001 mobile phone company One2One confirmed it would be building a 10 metre mast just yards from the Earl of Leicester pub.

The decision came after the city council failed to inform the telecommunications company within the 42 day deadline that its plans for a mast near the pub had been rejected.

But in July 2005 the Earl of Leicester was bulldozed at least a week before the planning committee met to decide whether its owners could build flats on it.

Ü Any objections to plans for a mast on the Norwich Community Hospital should be sent to Rupert Read at City Hal, Norwich NR2 1NH.

Ü Are you fighting against a mobile phone mast in your neighbourhood? Call Evening News reporter David Bale on 01603 772427 or email david.bale2@archant.co.uk

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