28 January 2004

PROPOSED TELECOMS GUIDANCE GETS COUNCIL SCRUTINY

Guildford Councillors this week revisited the findings from an 11-week long telecommunications consultation, which took place in autumn 2003.  The exercise was part of the Council’s Environment Scrutiny Committee review of council progress in developing a new Guildford Borough planning policy for mobile telecommunications masts.

Said Cllr Nick Sutcliffe, Chairman of the Council’s new Environment Scrutiny Committee: “This is a difficult and contentious subject and the members of the public and the councillors who spoke at the council meeting made many important points.  As a result I hope detailed thought will be given before the final version of the telecoms planning guidance goes before the Council’s Executive in February. 

The Council has been working with local interest groups - listening to their concerns and looking at ways of working together – but must in the end also develop a document that reflects the central government guidelines.  That is the only realistic approach for the Council to take.”

A final version of the proposed local telecoms guidance will be submitted to the Council Executive on 26 February 2004.

ENDS
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