Objectors upset at mast meeting (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Objectors upset at mast meeting

2:29pm Thursday 8th November 2007

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A SITE meeting to determine a planning application for a phone mast in Sarum Road, Winchester, descended into chaos today (November 8).

Winchester City Council's telecommunications sub-committee met at the site, along with about half-a-dozen objectors, to consider Vodafone's plans to put two new antennas and microwave dishes on the existing 02 mast.

But the meeting soon descended into chaos as objectors said they were not given enough of a chance to have their say.

Some people asked questions during the allotted time but when the chairman, Cllr Robert Johnston, moved to the next part of the meeting, involving questions and debate from members, they said he had not made it clear that the public's chance to speak was over.

Caroline St Leger-Davey told Cllr Johnston: "You just went straight onto the councillors, why didn't you ask if there were any more questions - you're stifling our questions?"

The council's principal legal officer, Bill Lynds, had to step in several times to reiterate that it was not a public debate and outlined the meeting procedure. At one point he and Cllr Johnston had to walk away to discuss the situation, leaving members Cllr Anne Saunders and Cllr Georgina Busher to defend the council's procedure.

Cllr Saunders said: "Everybody gets a chance to speak but we don't have a debate. I don't see how this should have to be any different."

On the return of Cllr Johnston and Mr Lynds, Cllr Busher suggested deferring the meeting as she was not happy that no representative for Vodafone was present to answer technical questions.

The committee agreed and will meet to discuss the application again at the next available meeting.

Among the objectors' concerns about the plans were fears for the health of nearby residents, the visual impact of the mast and the impact on the rural character of the road.

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