Lib Dem Deputy Leader Cllr Wayne Hoban has expressed shock and anger at Haringey Council’s failure to respond within the allotted time to the erection of a mobile phone mast and base unit in St Annes.

The mast is situated on a small patch of parkland on the St Annes Road / Seven Sisters Road junction. Residents complained to the Council as soon as they knew of the mast erection and asked them to contact the company, T-mobile, expressing their opposition and requesting a full consultation.

However, when Cllr Hoban met members of St Annes Residents Association during his election campaign, he was informed that Haringey Council had failed to contact T-mobile within the 56-day period allowed to respond to a mast erection.

Since meeting with residents he has contacted the Council and demanded an explanation. In response the Council have claimed in their defence that the letter was sent before the 56-day deadline had passed and that officers were unaware that the deadline existed.

They forwarded a copy of the letter sent to T-mobile which was dated two days before the deadline. However the deadline day was Sunday and consequently, the letter, posted on the Friday, did not arrive until Monday – after the deadline.

Cllr Hoban is angry that a rare piece of green open space in the ward has been ruined by a Council blunder. He adds that the failure of the Council to stop the mast goes against assurances made by the Council with regard to phone masts.

Cllr Hoban comments:

“Haringey Council Executive members in the past have assured me that where mobile masts adversely affect the environment, they would be opposed. With green open space at a premium in this area, the Council should have acted quickly and fought against this mast.

“They have failed to deliver and their incompetence has resulted in a permanent eyesore for the residents of St.Annes.If mobile masts and base stations were subject to the full planning process in line with Lib Dem policy, this situation would not have arisen.I will continue in my efforts to persuade the Council to adopt this policy in the interests of all residents.”