Into fray again

Only two years after they successfully fought off plans for three transmitters, the residents are now gearing up for a battle with two telecoms companies over the exchange in Lower Prospect.

They are furious that BT has already put up a new dish transmitter without planning consent.

Kennet District Council has confirmed that the new dish aerial needs planning permission and has given BT until the end of this week to submit an application or the council will consider enforcement action.

Now telecoms company Crown Castle International is re-applying for two mobile phone masts, each four metres high, on top of the exchange.

The exchange in Lower Prospect is surrounded by homes and families fear their health could suffer as a result of emissions from the transmitters.

They are angry, too, that although previous planning applications for masts on top of the exchange were turned down by Kennet on visual grounds the company is planning to re apply.

In 2002 families living in the area of Lower Prospect, Alexandra Terrace and Blowhorn Street mounted a successful campaign to have the transmitter plans turned down.

They are livid that exactly two years later they are having to fight the same battle again.

No planning application for the two masts has been made yet but "pre-application consultation" letters have been sent to district councillors Marian Hannaford and Bill Cavill, who represent the the town's east ward.

They have been sent out by agents FPD Savills acting for Crown Castle saying that two mobile phone companies '3' and T-Mobile want to put transmitters on top of the exchange.

FPD Savills said: "The purpose of this letter is to invite you, as the elected ward representative for the area, to comment on this proposal so that your views can, if practicable, be taken into account prior to the making of any application to the planning authority."

The agents said the planning application would be made within about 14 days.

The agents' letter added: "We are, of course, aware of the sensitive planning issues associated with this site and were able to work effectively with the authority and your appointed consultant on that earlier application to provide supporting information necessary to lead to a positive officer recommendation."

Kennet refused the previous application because the exchange is adjacent to a conservation area and it was felt to be an inappropriate development.

Coun Hannaford supported the residents' previous campaign and said she would be doing so again.

She said: "I cannot express an opinion at this stage in case I have to speak at the Kennet regulatory committee when this plan comes before it.

"I am, however, most certainly aware of the local concern and have been talking to the residents to hear their views."

Coun Hannaford said that any objection, as with the previous application, would have to be dealt with on planning issues and not based on health fears.

Leading campaigner Peter Hussey, whose home in Alexandra Terrace is just feet from the telephone exchange, said the proposed new planning application was the same as the one in 2002 except that two microwave transmitters were planned instead of three.

Jenny Waite, who has lived in Lower Prospect for almost 40 years, said: "We don't want it. I don't think it should be in a built-up area like this."

Zoe Pratt, who has lived in Lower Prospect for six years with husband Geoff, said she was concerned about emmissions affecting the health of their two-year-old daughter Holly.

Mrs Pratt said: "We are also concerned about the view because we look straight out on to the exchange from our upstairs windows."

Irene Aldous, who has lived opposite the exchange in Lower Prospect for 28 years, said she feared for the health of children living close transmitters.

Mrs Aldous was concerned that the planning application could be re-submitted and said: "Is it a case of if at first you don't succeed keep trying and they will relent."