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Claims of betrayal as mast erected
Thursday 25th September 2008, 11:50AM BST.
Angry campaigners today accused telecommunications giant Vodafone of betrayal after a controversial mobile phone mast was erected on a Telford playing field.
People in the Malinslee area had been in the midst of arranging a meeting with the mobile phone company to see if there were any alternative sites for the mast and to air their concerns about its proposed location near playing fields.
But they discovered this morning that the mast, which has planning permission, had already been put up.
Shaun Davies, a member of Great Dawley Parish Council, said: “We were actively looking with the council at alternative sites and we were going to meet face-to-face about the issue and see if we could find a way forward and now they have put the mast near to the playing field off Dawley Green Way.”
But Vodafone today said there was no commitment given to residents or councillors that work to put up the mast would be delayed until after a meeting had been arranged with the parties.
Rob Cruise, of nearby Alma Avenue, said: “We feel totally and utterly betrayed.”
He added: “I have had quite a few phone calls from people and they feel exactly the same.”
A number of residents were joined by Telford MP David Wright as they gathered at the site today to air their anger and disappointment at the move.
They were today organising an emergency public meeting to discuss what action to take after a controversial mobile phone mast was put up near a Telford playing field and BMX track.
People are being urged to turn out to the parish council offices in Dawley to have their say on the move by Vodafone.
Shaun Davies, a member of Great Dawley Parish Council, said they were inviting Councillor Steve Bentley, from Telford & Wrekin Council, to attend the meeting in Burton Street at 7pm tomorrow to speak to residents.
David Wright MP said: “This is an outrageous move by Vodafone, having pledged to work with the local community.”
Councillor Bentley, cabinet member for the environment, said he had been advised that the mast had been installed today.
“Given the situation that I as cabinet member and the administration were placed, in that Vodafone had permission for an application in 2006, I believe our representations on behalf of concerned residents were robust.”
However, Councillor Bentley said he found it “disturbing” Vodafone put up the mast, despite a promise from the firm to contact 250 residents in the area and hold a public forum meeting about it.
Rob Matthews, Vodafone spokesman, said today: “We still have not heard from the local councillors concerning the dates upon which the meting could take place.
“Vodafone has a valid planning permission and accordingly have continued with the build process.”
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And of course, quite rightly, none of the protesters or Mr Wright use mobile phones, as part of their commitment to their cause. Well done!
What? They DO use mobiles? And some of them use Vodaphone? Hmm.
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What a vacuous thing to say Matt. Did anyone say they were against mobile phones or did they say they were outraged at being treated with contempt by the company??
Oh, I got it. You’re a Tory and just don’t like David Wright. Fair enough, but be honest about it.
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Matt you’re a really funny guy. I don’t have a mobile and my kids and grandkids don’t. It wouldn’t stop vodaphone from putting a mast up outside my home.
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Matt: Well what can I add to that? – you’ve put it in a nut shell, which is probably what these people think with.
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You should be able to have a say in what happens in your area. We shouldn’t have to have companies like this walk all over us.
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Come on – its just Malinsee after all. Its not like its a nice area in Telford like mmmmmm
mmmmm
mmmmm
mmmm
Ironbridge or Priorslee
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I bet there was a time when these people got in a tissy about telegraph pole going up with unsightly wires killing wildlife, and all those telephone exchanges blighting the area etc etc.
Its just a metal pole with a box at the bottom!
Didn’t these people make their view known at the planning stage? So just what are they trying to achieve? Honestly *tut*
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Y Mab Darogan said:
“Come on – its just Malinsee after all. Its not like its a nice area in Telford like mmmmmm
mmmmm
mmmmm
mmmm
Ironbridge or Priorslee”
I know it’s off-thread (but you started it!) – where do you live Y Mab? Not Shrewsbury by any chance, perhaps in one of the picturesque and crime-free areas such as Sundorne, Harlescott, Monkmoor, Castlefields…..?
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The mast is out of the way – there is rarely no more than a handful of kids on the playing area for a couple of hours at any one time on fine days. They are also at risk from getting knocked down on the roads getting to/from the track.
Don’t the council know whats going on as they gave the planning permission for the mast before the BMX was constructed, or has the BMX not had planning permission?
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Mystic Jon who claims to know people’s political affiliation from a 38 word posting.
We don’t know what your political affiliation is. But we can guess.
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Hang on. Jon has raised an interesting point. The then Labour authority gave planning permission. And now the Labour MP and Labour councillors have decided to protest. A bit late now, chaps! Where were you when your fellow councillors gave permission? Or now the Tories are in, is it considered safe to protest?
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They are are just a bunch of neo-luddites. The sort of people who would still have us walking infront of cars with red flags if they had their way.
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Matt how much research have you done into this technology, i take it you have read the reports into it commissioned by the government, that say caution should be taken when placing masts, that they shouldn’t be placed near schools and children. Even the world health organisation recognize electrosensitivity.
Everyone said asbestos and smoking was safe along time ago but they proved to be very dangerous. Should we be risking our health in this way? Well i’m not prepared to.
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Lucy W you have yet again proved your ignorance, this has nothing to do with what the masts look like and is all about health concerns.
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permission was granted before the track was built, so can’t complain now.
If you don’t like the way mobile phone companies behave, stop using mobile phones.
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After reading some of Lucy Ws views on the BNP and young children failing to pick up loads of other peoples rubbish while out on a walk, i’m shocked to find she thinks these people are just nimby’s complaining about their view. But of course Lucy you know it all and peoples health concerns mean nothing.
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Rob-Telford…. NOOOOOO we don’t want y mad and his idiotic views in Shrewsbury… Send him to Wales !
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Sorry.
But What is the problem here?
Is it the mast itself, or the mast being erected with planning consent?
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Lucy W you are one of those people who would still have us smoking in pubs and around children because they are perfectly safe. It’s just silly people saying you can get cancer!
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It’s all a bit ironic that councillors Sahota and Bentley have jumped on the bandwagon now when it was their Labour run council that ok-ed it.
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I wonder whether Vodafone tried to text everybody about the work being started but the NIMBYs couldn’t get a signal on their mobiles…least now they will be able to get one sooner rather than later.
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BRIAN(2) said:
It’s all a bit ironic that councillors Sahota and Bentley have jumped on the bandwagon now when it was their Labour run council that ok-ed it.
“Their Labour-run council” – oh yeah I forgot about Cllr Bentley’s Damascene conversion from Labour to Tory just before the last council elections!!
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The bottom line is this was giving planning permission so we must place our trust in our democraticly elected council to do the right thing for us or do we want another form of government?
I have no time for these moans. Did you seek a Judicial Review when permission was granted? So why all the fuss now?
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Matt, read my posting carefully:
‘Did anyone say they were against mobile phones or did they say they were outraged at being treated with contempt by the company??’
I am not a member of a political party and never would be but your constant sniping at all things Labour tells me you must be a Tory. If I am wrong then tell us what your real name is. You have mine!
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