Press Releases	28/05/2003 18:17:17
"Council planners battle to change mast proposals"

Planners at East Dunbartonshire Council are locked in a ‘David and Goliath’ struggle with Network Rail - the company which runs the UK’s rail infrastructure - over the company’s plans to erect two 100ft lattice masts in the area.

Rail chiefs are proposing to put the masts up at railway sides in the centre of Bishopbriggs and at Hillfoot in Bearsden.

Network Rail have the support of central government for the masts which, they say, are necessary to improve signalling across the country to avoid further tragedies like the one at Ladbroke Grove.

Amazingly, although the masts stretch 100ft into the sky (three times as high as a modern street light) and will be visible from miles around they do not need planning permission.

Councillor Margaret McNaughton, East Dunbartonshire’s new Planning Board Chair and a local Councillor in Bishopbriggs, is disappointed that these proposals can proceed whether the Council agrees or not.

She said, “This is a national issue which seems to be steam-rollering ahead despite the very real concerns of Councils and local communities. People remain worried about the effect that the growing number of masts is having but, especially in this case, Councils have no powers to do anything about them.

“Of course rail safety is a serious issue which must be addressed but I question whether this is the best all-round solution.

Councillor Julia Southcott, who represents people in the Hillfoot area, added, “Aside from concerns about unproven long term health effects, people are rightly angry that these masts are eyesores. We must do what we can to make our feelings on the issue known.”

Nigel Hooper, a Planning Manager with the Council said that, although the masts will almost certainly go ahead, the Council is continuing to try to persuade Network Rail to put them in less visually damaging locations such as further away from houses and in industrial yards.

He added, “Network Rail tells us that there is not a lot of choice about where the masts go as they need to be able to talk to each other. Yet in Bishopbriggs, for example, by moving the mast a mere 400 metres from its proposed location, it could be taken away from behind a Doctor’s surgery to a less visible and controversial site.

“These are the arguments we will continue to put to Network Rail on behalf of the people of East Dunbartonshire.”

Ends (398 words)

Contact: Claire Robertson, Public Affairs, 0141 578 8032
Date: Tuesday 27 May 2003