Mobile phone mast accord
Mobiles and masts find a welcome in outstanding
landscapes
13 January 2004
The challenges surrounding the need to balance the protection
of the countryside with technological progress have been addressed
in a new accord signed by the Mobile
Operators Association, the Association
of National Park Authorities (ANPA), and the Association
for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The Accord
should see an end to the problems that have sometimes arisen in
the past when plans were announced for new telecommunications
masts in protected areas of the country.
Welcoming the accord on behalf of ANPA, Chief Executive Martin
Fitton said: “People living and visiting National Parks
naturally want the same quality of communication services as the
rest of the country. This gives us all a great challenge to make
provision without damaging our finest landscapes. The Accord,
which encourages very special consideration of landscape issues
and which will encourage innovation in reducing visual impact,
provides an excellent framework within which we can all work.”
Mike Dolan, Executive Director of the Mobile Operators Association
said: “ Mobile phone operators welcome the opportunity the
Accord creates to work with the APNA to bring 21st century technology
and timeless landscapes together in an environmentally sensitive
manner. Network operators recognise their obligation to protect
the special qualities of the National Parks and AONBs.”
The Accord underlines the mobile phone operators’ obligations
to protect the special qualities of National Parks and AONBs,
while those bodies responsible for approving applications recognise
the requirement that the mobile phone operators have to provide
as consistent a service as possible to their customers in all
parts of the country – including protected areas.
ANPA and the operators have agreed to a meet once a year. The
operators will also provide “roll-out plans” to each
National Park Authority. The two sides will also look at ways
of reducing the impact masts have on the environment. This could
include companies sharing masts, and producing new designs, which
are more landscape friendly.
Pre-application discussion between agents, planning consultants
and National Park Authority planning teams will also take place
to further minimise the environmental impacts of any proposed
schemes.
Mobile Operators Association | 
