An urgent meeting attended by all three Lib Dem Alexandra ward Councillors saw Jim Stephenson, O2 Representative, face angry questioning from residents following the mobile phone company’s decision to go ahead with installing a mobile phone mast on the site of a disused factory in Albert Road, N22. This was despite O2 having dropped their plans early in 2002 following a successful local residents’ campaign against the mast.

The meeting was called after local residents awoke last Sunday morning to find a huge mobile crane arriving at the site in Albert Road. It was subsequently discovered that O2 Telecommunications were preparing to install a mobile mast on site.

Wayne Hoban, Alexandra ward councillor, informed residents that there is no requirement for telecom companies to seek planning permission from the local authority for installation of such masts, thereby excluding local residents from the decision making process. This was confirmed by the Council.

However Cllr Hoban has branded O2’s actions “totally unacceptable” and believes there remains legitimate health concerns regarding mobile phone mast emissions, which makes it even more important that the widest possible consultation should take place before they are installed, particularly in residential areas such as Albert Road.

O2 was asked to stop all work on the installation for a period of up to a month to allow proper consultation, which the company agreed to ‘look at’. It was also agreed that another public meeting should be held next week to which the Chief Executive of O2, council officers, and local councillors, would be invited. In the meantime, further action is being considered by local residents to reinforce their strong opposition to this development.

Cllr Wayne Hoban (Alexandra) comments:

“We are very concerned with the way the erection of this telephone mast has come about. The Council seems powerless to do anything to stop it due to the Government’s lack of legislation protecting residents.

“The lack of consultation has been unacceptable and we must make the most of the month that we have to gather comments and opinion from those who will be affected by this installation.”