Norman Baker MP Member of Parliament for Lewes constituency
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Contact Norman at:
Norman Baker,
23 East Street,
Lewes,
East Sussex,
BN7 2LJ.
Tel: (01273) 480281.
Fax: (01273) 480287.
Email: info
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2003 (and previous) press releases
Local MP co-sponsors Bill cutting Network Rail's phone masts down to size
A Lib Dem Bill, co-sponsored by local MP Norman Baker, is seeking to close a legal loophole which allows large numbers of phone masts to be erected by Network Rail without consultation with local people. Mr Baker wants to give his constituents the chance to have their say over the sighting of such phone masts.
The current legal loophole allows phone masts of any height to be built on land owned by Network Rail without planning permission. The masts are used for relaying data and voice communications as part of a new signalling system. Network Rail plans to construct as many as 5,000 new phone masts across Britain, some up to 33m high.
The Telecommunications Masts (Railways) Bill, backed by Norman Baker, is the brainchild of Lib Dem MP for Cheadle Patsy Calton. The Bill changes the law to require all masts over 15m in height to have full planning permission.
Speaking about the Bill, Norman Baker says:
"East Sussex is a beautiful part of the country and I am concerned that Network Rail's arbitrary power to build phone masts of any height, anywhere on their land, is a threat to the local scenery. It is unacceptable that decisions to install such masts currently require no local consultation or planning permission.
"I am extremely pleased to be a co-sponsor of this important Bill, which would shift the decision-making power to build phone masts away from Network Rail and back to elected representatives and local residents. I hope the government will back it all the way."