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Gatley sees of One-2-One
It is now 15 months since Gatley Action supported Julie Smith's legal action against Stockport Council to stop the erection of a mobile phone mast on Oakwood Avenue.
Many people think that because it has been so long, we've won. However that is not true as it has not reached the courts and now it's going to. Initially One-2-One offered to join discussions between the council and solicitor. They offered an out of court settlement saying they wouldn't put the mast up. However, they would only make this promise to Stockport Council and consistently refused to make an undertaking to the court. This meant that if we had agreed, and One-2-One put the mast up, it would of been up to Stockport Council to take it down - we do not belive Stockport Council would have done this and we would have no legal redress.
This offer changed when One-2-One discovered Julie had moved house and now they WILL make an undertaking to the court which means if they put it up the courts will make them take it down. This is not what we really wanted. Campaigns and pressure groups across the country were waiting to see what would happen in Gatley as this would be the first time that the health issue would have been through court. I fwe had won (as One-2-One obviously thought we would) it would set a precedent and allow all other mast applications to be challenged in this way as well as existing masts. Unfortunatley, because we were relying on Julie's Legal Aid and because of Julie's changed circumstances we have had to accept this deal otherwise
Legal Aid would be withdrwawn.

In a way we have won, we will not be getting the mast on the approved site. However new applications from One-2-One, or any otheroperators, could materialise at any time anywhere outside a 5 metre radius of the original site.

Click here to read a letter of Objection
regarding the Mast erection on Gatley Hill

GATLEY ACTION AGAINST MASTS

New Mast Application Vodafone have applied to remove their existing mast on Gatley Hill and replace it with a far more powerful mast and several new cabins.

They intend to double the number of antennae and include dishes on the new mast. They also intend to "prune" the trees nearby!! Since last years campaign
(which is still continuing) I have become very involved in Mast Action
UK which represents and supports campaigns across the country.
I now run their web site and their online advice service www.mastaction.org .

We are now very well prepared to fight applications so if you need information on how to object effectively please give me a call. I am now preparing a substantial objection letter written on behalf of all members of Gatley Action. If you wish to see this letter and the numerous reasons why the new application should be turned down call in or give me a ring. You still cannot object on the health risks, however the perception of a health risk is a very valid planning consideration as it leads to a loss of personal amenity. Please let your councillors know how strongly you feel ASAP.

(If you need their names and addresses and phone numbers please let me know) Objections need to be sent to : Director of Environmental and Economic Development, Environment and Economic Development Division, Hygarth House,
103 Wellington Road South, Stockport. SK1 3TT.
Quoting Planning Reference : DC006376 (on envelope and letter)
Closing Date : 11th January 2002 Lisa Oldham 14 Springfield Road Gatley 491 6543

Press Release from Gatley Action Against Masts

There has been ANOTHER planning application to build a mobile phone mast on Gatley golf course (App. Nbr DC006202).Objections to be in by 19th December 2001.

I advised residents about a previous application in the summer IT WAS PASSED by the planning committee. Luckily Dolphin Telecoms are now in receivership or you would have a mast by now!! I know many people wrote to object to the original 2 applications however to defeat the application you not only need to object very specifically about a number of issues , you also need to get lots of publicity and lots of residents out to support your objections. The mast is only 15 metres in height, so it does not have to go through the normal planning procedure.

However regardless of what advice you may get from councillors and planning officers

THEY CAN TURN THEM DOWN

(regardless of the much publicised new Govt guidelines -PPG8).

Gatley Action has been fighting Stockport Council for a year now because they have given permission for One-2-One to build a mast on Oakwood Avenue. It looks like One-2-One are now ready to back down! In other words we can beat them! I do not live in the danger area of this mast, however I am now involved in Mast Action UK which represents hundreds of campaigns throughout the country and I am actively involved in numerous campaigns across the United Kingdom.

As I understand it, mast decisions in Stockport are now decided by the planning department rather than our local councillors. If you wish our councillors to decide this application then you need to let them know now. They can choose to decide this application if they wish at the area committee meeting. For info on how to object and what to object on and for information about the dangers of mobile phone masts please visit the web site http://www.mastaction.org and email me at the webmaster address, or ring me on 0161 491 6543 Lisa Oldham Gatley Action Against Masts -Mast Action UK Web Mgr

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