SOLIHULL MP ASKS MOBILE PHONE GIANT TO SUSPEND OPERATIONS AND RE-SUBMIT PLANS AT WIDNEY LANE MAST SITE

10.39.20pm GMT Tue 2nd Oct 2007

T Mobile bosses travelled to Solihull this week for talks with Lorely Burt MP over the controversial mast installation at Widney Lane.

The mast was erected by T Mobile after a blunder by the Council gifted them planning permission.

Mrs Burt had frank talks and highlighted the strength of local feeling about their decision to exploit a failure in planning process procedures to allow the company to erect and operate the mast.

Lorely Burt MP said:

"I have listened to what they had to say but left them in no doubt about the anger and resentment felt by residents over their decision to go ahead with the mast.

"I have asked T Mobile to switch off the mast and re-submit the application for consideration by the council.

"T Mobile knew full well that this was going to be a controversial application and that the council had already returned their submission as invalid. They then exploited the council's failure on procedures to go ahead with the installation.

"Large mobile phone companies have a reputation for railroading planning applications, and I believe it is important that T Mobile honour the spirit of the process by turning off the mast and re-submitting the plan for proper public scrutiny if they are to regain local resident's respect."

"I hope they will respond positively to my request."