READER LETTER: Why it matters when we say NO!

Sir -  I have always been intrigued as to the true meaning of Rotherham Borough Council's  strapline “Where Everyone Matters”.

In a recent edition of the Advertiser (November 11)  you featured an article entitled “Residents’ fury as phone mast appears."

Thrybergh residents were clearly shocked and angry at how any claimed consultation had been kept well under the radar.

It would appear that unless you live within touching distance of these proposed planning locations or make a habit of studying local lampposts, you very much run the risk of falling foul of the “56 day rule whereby apparatus can be installed by default."

Consultation at it’s best – NOT.

Having recently been made aware that Vodafone and Telefonica now “urgently” need to add to their ever-increasing collection of landmark telecommunications masts less than 30 meters from my own front door – I and a number of like-minded neighbours dared to object.

The agent acting on behalf of the communication giants has to date already failed twice to site this particular 12.5m / 41 foot mast in or around Bramley and has now homed in on a grass verge on Moor Lane South, opposite the junction of Stonely Brook.

Do you agree with Mr Guest? Does Rotherham Council take notice of the public? Is there enough consultation about the siting of phone masts? Use the "write a comment" buttons to tell us what you think or click here to send a letter to the editor.

Thanks’ to the reporting of the aforementioned article in the Advertiser, we were at least forewarned of the stealth tactics these agents utilise.

With the support of Bramley Parish Council and the interest and guidance shown by John Healey MP, we decided to gauge community feeling for ourselves, rather than depend on the small sample of feedback which the agent is obliged to provide to both his paymasters and RMBC.

Rather than focus on the 33 properties which the agent was obliged to contact, we spread the net a little further.

Keeping within a very focussed area where residents would on a daily basis encounter said mast, a couple of evenings door knocking has generated over 200 signatures on a petition which will be presented to RMBC to hopefully demonstrate local feeling towards this planning application.

Our objections are based on the loss of visual amenity and the negative effect such a structure would have on a well established street-scene on the edge of the greenbelt.

I hope that in the not too distant future, I will be able to update you with the outcome. I sincerely hope that in a place “Where Everyone Matters” – the people of Bramley who dared to say NO to Vodafone and Telefonica will be able to say YES , RMBC did listen and YES, we do matter.

J Guest, Stonely Brook, Bramley.