Two of the three mast campaigns mounted by residents with the help of Tobias Ellwood MP, although a long way from being resolved, are making progress.

Vodafone mast at Fisherman's Walk

Vodafone has agreed to consider moving the highly controversial mobile phone mast erected at Fisherman's walk, thanks to a hugely successful resident's demonstration and letter writing campaign co-ordinated by Tobias.

Vodafone conceded they "would consider relocating so long as the site is technically sound, commercially feasible and likely to receive the necessary planning permission". Tobias will meet with Vodafone to discuss alternative sites on 11th April and then seek the views of local residents to see if a new location can be agreed.

The original planning application for this mast was turned down by the Council in September, but a failure to properly inform the operator meant Vodafone was free to ignore the Council's decision to refuse permission.

Hutchinson 3G mast on Wimborne Road

Following another well organised local campaign Hutchinson 3G have also agreed to consider other sites in the Moordown area. Residents who fiercely objected to the mast erected on top of the Holly Tree pub are now proposing two alternative locations which Tobias will formally propose to them.

02 Mast in Queen's Park Drive

Another Council blunder has allowed 02 to erect a mast a stone's throw from Park School. This time, a letter informing the operator of the Council's decision to refuse the application failed to reach 02 in the statutory 56 day notification period.

Bizarrely a second application for a mast in the area, this time by Vodafone, received approval even though it will be sited NEARER the school than the first mast, which the Council had hoped to refuse.

Commenting on these developments Tobias said:

"There clearly needs to be more joined up thinking in the Town Hall. We anticipate around another 40 more masts in Bournemouth, as the five operators role out their third generation technology. We cannot continue with this litany of mistakes, only rectified after residents have been forced to organise demonstrations."

Progress is slowly being made on the various campaigns but residents from all three areas are to unite at the full Council meeting on the 18th of April to make deputations to the Council. We will be calling for improvements to the planning process, a more co-ordinated approach involving better consultation with residents and an understanding that masts should not be erected near schools."

In response to the problems Bournemouth has recently experienced with masts, Tobias has invited all five mobile phone operators to meet in order to see if there is scope for sharing the same technology, if not the same masts, to avoid similar problems arising in the future.