Tobias The Government today killed off the Telecommunications Masts (Planning Control) Private Members Bill which would have given more power to local councils and improved the consultation process in dealing with planning applications for mobile phone masts. There are presently around 45,000 masts in the country with a further 50,000 masts still expected in order for all five mobile phone networks to complete their role out of third generation networks (3G).

This is the third time a Private Members' Bill about masts has been put forward and the third time the Government have refused to allow it to reach committee stage. The ODPM Minister Jim Fitzpatrick MP deliberately kept talking at the dispatch box after the 2.30pm cut off time thus ensuring the Bill would not proceed to the committee stage.

Tobias Ellwood spoke in support of the Bill and urged the Minister during the debate to save his the bulk of his comments for the committee stage - but the minister refused.

If passed, the legislation would have been in the interests of Bournemouth as around 40 more masts are required across the town in order for the five mobile phone companies to complete their network coverage. Residents are becoming increasingly angry over the lack of consultation and this Bill would have provided the assurances and safeguards residents have been calling for.

Tobias was also seeking a new clause which would call for the Government to establish a single national mobile phone mast network (there are presently five). Mobile phone operators would be required to share one mast network therefore cutting the number of mobile phone masts in England and Wales by around three quarters.

Commenting on the outcome Tobias said:

"I am very disappointed that the Government has failed to support improvements to planning law which councils across the country have been calling for. I will now seek a meeting with all five mobile phone operators with a view to Bournemouth running a pilot scheme obliging the operators to provide 3G coverage, either sharing the same technology (this already happens between a couple of the operators) or sharing the same set of masts."