World-News

The National Assembly's EPC Committee has considered the planning process by which permissions for telecommunication masts are granted. The Committee's recommendation will now be put before a full session of the National Assembly on 11th of October when AM's will decide on a series of proposals designed to introduce new controls on the development of masts. Commenting on the Committee proposals, Chair Glyn Davies said: "We are making proposals which will introduce much greater control by Local Planning Authorities on the location of new telecommunication masts. The Committee is proposing that masts below 15feet in height should, for the first time, have to secure planning permission before they can go ahead. We also believe that the Minister should give clearer guidance to Local Planning Authorities about how they take Health Impact Assessments into account. And we also recommended that the Government strengthens its Code of Practice on mobile phone network development. Many people, the length and breadth of Wales, are deeply concerned about the impact of telecommunications masts and we have made proposals to the Assembly Government which would help satisfy some of these concerns. It will be up to the AM's to decide which of these proposals are accepted."