[27
JUN 00] SEVERN
TRENT NEWS
Burton Green Up In Arms Over Phone
Mast
Villagers
are playing a waiting game with a phone company and Severn Trent to
block the installation of a mobile phone mast.
The
whole of Burton Green spent the weekend, writing, phoning, faxing and
e-mailing Severn Trent boss Brian Duckworth.
They
are urging the company to u-turn on its plan to allow a water tower
near Cromwell Lane to be used to improve mobile phone reception.
One2One
wants to put new antennae on the Tile Hill water tower. Locals say the
application to Warwick District Council for the equipment cabinets to
power the aerials was flawed - it named the wrong water tower and
incorrectly said there were no homes nearby.
There
was a public meeting on Thursday and villagers have vowed to carry on
the fight. They see the planning battle as lost and are turning their
efforts against the water company which owns the tower.
There
are health fears with a nursery nearby plus fears for individuals who
have a pacemaker and epilepsy.
Campaigner
Carolyn O’Neill who runs a cattery close to the water tower said:
“The
restrictions in eastern Europe are stonger than they are here. The
local councils’ hands are tied, as the Government seems to have
given these phone companies the power to do what they like.
“We
had a good meeting last weekend and we have a lot of support. There
are banners around the site and there is a car blocking the road in
– and it is staying there!
“We
are looking really to Severn Trent. Brian Duckworth has probably
received more mail and calls this weekend than he has for a long
time.
“It
is just a waiting game now – but we are not giving up.”
A
farmer in Benson Green Lane has offered One2One the chance to look at
a disused power pylon on his land. That would mean the tower would be
nearly a mile from the village – but on higher ground, which should
improve reception.
The
phone company ruled out a previous suggestion of the Powergen mast in
Hodgetts Lane saying it would not give as good coverage as the water
tower site. Villagers say by adding an extra nine-metre tower to that
location should solve the problem, but One2One has written to
councillors saying work would begin this week.
But
villagers think otherwise. A car has been placed in the driveway to
the site, meaning access is almost impossible for the workmen.
A
previous barricade made the company postpone its plans a month ago and
villagers say they will not give in.
They
praise the efforts of their MP Andy King (Lab, Rugby and Kenilworth)
and district councillor Bertie Mackay (Ind, Stoneleigh) for their
efforts to broker a deal. But the stalemate continues.
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