Fears of big legal bill in mast row

Telford & Wrekin Council could face legal action and a bill of more than £100,000 if it breaks a contract with phone giant Vodafone over a controversial mast in the town, it was claimed today.Council bosses are looking for an alternative site after a public outcry over plans to put up a mobile phone mast close to Malinslee Playing Fields.

Vodafone was granted permission two years ago by Telford & Wrekin Council but a BMX track has since been built on the playing fields. Residents called on the borough council to rethink its decision.

Great Dawley parish councillor Shaun Davies previously asked how much it would cost the council to tear up the contract.

Councillor Steve Bentley, of Telford & Wrekin Council, said today: “We have also looked closely at the 10-year legal agreement made with Vodafone under the previous Labour administration to place the mast on council-owned land.

“Ripping this up would leave the council open to the possibility of legal action and to repay costs so far incurred on installing the mast that may run up a bill of over £100,000.”

Dr Rob Matthews, for Vodafone, has previously said all of their stations were designed, built and operated in accordance with stringent international guidelines.

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This article posted on August 25, 2008 at 11:50

3 Comments

  1. Henrik Eiriksson said: Aug 25th, 2008 at 14:55

    A £100,000 legal bill is nothing compared to the cost to society due to health damage from mobile phone masts. The problems have been amply documented in scientific studies that the health authorities are ignoring. 80% of those studies show harm to health on people living near mobile phone masts.

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  2. ADH said: Aug 25th, 2008 at 15:58

    The council should be more concerned about the kids using the bmx track. surely they can find a better place to put the mast out of the way of people.

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  3. Y Mab Darogan said: Aug 27th, 2008 at 10:24

    Just build the mast at the BMX site.

    Its not proven any harm comes from such masts

    And it will be useful as an experiments

    ie if the children undergo any harmful effects in say 10 – 20 years time that can be connected to the mast.

    And in the future such masts will not be built

    but for now build the masts and lets study the effects.

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