Lib Dem councillors have tabled a motion calling on Haringey Council to take action to reduce the growing number of mobile phone masts around schools, hospitals and residential properties in the borough.

The motion, tabled for discussion at next Monday’s (14th November) Full Council meeting follows years of campaigning by Lib Dems locally to protect areas frequented by children such as parks and schools as well as residential areas from being used as mobile phone mast sites.

In recent months, there has been renewed concern by local residents and Lib Dem councillors that the current regulations give little powers to Haringey Council to prevent applications for mobile phone masts in the same way that they can for any other construction in the borough.

The motion, tabled by Lib Dem Deputy Leader Cllr Wayne Hoban, requests that the Council calls on local MPs to lobby for more powers for local councils to control the sitting of phone masts and powers to reject mast applications on local public health grounds.

Additionally Cllr Hoban wants Haringey to lead the way, by writing to all other London boroughs and asking them to adopt the ‘precautionary principle’ towards phone mast applications.

Cllr Hoban and Lib Dem leader Cllr Neil Williams who is seconding the motion, say that it is essential that both sides of the Council get behind this motion so that an issue that is of huge concern to local residents can be addressed.

Cllr Hoban (Alexandra) comments:

“Currently the Council has little power to control mobile phone masts and the intention of this motion is to get the Council to do more to address this problem.

Cllr Williams (Highgate) adds:

“Lynne Featherstone MP has done much good work on this issue since becoming an MP including a tabling a Parliamentary Motion, and I hope that this Council motion gains the cross-party support that so many residents of Haringey desire.”