Am I being nimby about phone mast !!

[orangeandpineapple7]

Hello, we already have a phone mast nearby where we live and now another is proposed but this one is 30 metres away and will be completely visible from our garden. I'm against it and so am writing to object, getting onto local council and local mp. My aibu is if I want mobile services am I unreasonable for saying not 30 metres from my house. Also has anyone manged to object successfully please and might you have any tips or how did you go about it. Thank you so much.

Different networks use different masts. I always say that people are quick enough to complain when they can't get a signal or access the internet because there aren't enough masts in the vicinity.

Surely they'll need planning permission. And at that proximity, you will be consulted and will get the opportunity to object.

That is a bit close. Yes do object!

Yes.

We have a mast at the end of our street phone reception is not brilliant and it interferes with our Internet. In our town you can object all you like but they will put it up anyway I'm not saying don't object tho because it may be different where you live.

Where do you want it put, who’s house is it ok to 30 metres away from?

Thanks for your replies, yes we have opportunity to object and I've written a letter and will speak to neighbours. I'm not saying it should be near someone else's garden, I'm aware I don't have a solution. I'm worried about health effects and also house prices, we could apparently lose between 10 and 25 percent. I'm just thinking about our daughter really and how it might affect her

She didn't say it should be in anyone else's garden. These things should not be near anyone's home!

Phone companies should be made to share masts instead of them being everywhere.

Are you worried about appearance or other issues?

We live in a conservation area. The phone companies have to share a mast, which is just common sense.

I don't understand why it isn't standard policy everywhere.

I don't blame you. Object and if it is moved to someone else's 30 metres off property that is their cross to bear. Look out for your own interest, certainly nobody else will be looking after yours.

Can you explain how it interferes with your internet?

They should be forced to share masts, anyway.

You can’t object from a health point of view as there is zero evidence they harm health.

The mast lowering your house price will not be taken into account.

You can go with overbearing, out of keeping with character of neighbourhood (but as there is another one nearby not sure this is valid), damage to conservation area or listed building. Unless there is a protected sightline view, you can’t use that one either.

This will be a very tricky one to fight as you don’t have many valid objections.

Yes it’s annoying, but at a macro level companies in the UK are getting annoyed that they can’t get simple business done due to endless planning permission disputes. Companies are exiting the UK as a result. Labour are hopefully going to rip up the planning legislation to put a stop to nimbys protesting about absolutely everything. I don’t think there are genuine health risks with masts, and in my mind that would be the only valid grounds for protesting. The drop in the value of your house is irrelevant.

Let's get some signs made Pam and get down there.

Yes, you're being a NIMBY. Unless you spend most of your life out in the remote hills, you're exposed to mobile signals from the thousands of transmitters that are everywhere all the time.

Plus signals from your phone and those of everyone that you are near to. So this mast being near your house will not increase your exposure to mobile phone network signals.

Other than 'but I don't want it' what 'scientific' or factual based actual objection do you have?

Literally just heard this as a news headline on the radio 2 minutes ago!

There are no proven links to adverse health effects from mobile phone masts.

If there are no adverse health effects then thats fab, i don't have scientific proof nor did I say I did have. The house price is relevant to me and my family as we could lose money and I think if anyone else was honest surely they would feel the same. Would you want to lose money ? Would you want it behind your garden ? I think probably not. I wonder if the people getting cross with me are just glad it isn't on their doorstep !!

Phone companies don't just install masts willy-nilly. They are proposing that location because their signal coverage is inadequate in that area.

YABU because what you are really suggesting is that other people should have worse mobile phone reception so you don't have to see the mast from your house.

NIMBYism in this country is beyond a joke, such as forcing HS2 to be put into tunnels which makes the entire project unaffordable. "Companies should be forced to share masts" - that is unrealistic, they are not going to do that just to appease NIMBYs. Labour are going to rip up the planning rules and rightly so - it's one thing to object to your neighbour putting up an extension, but not when it comes to essential national infrastructure.

"I want my mobile phone to work wherever I go", "No person should have to look at a mobile phone mast or live near one". These two statements completely contradict one another.

Yep, you're being a NIMBY. But most people, me included, are too. It's always worth objecting if there are really sensible reasons. Loss of amenity, character of the area, added traffic, noise (not phone masts, I know). Especially of you can show that it could go somewhere where these things won't be an an issue. But I don't like the idea that it can go outside someone elses house instead - way to lose friends. Planning is set to get very realaxed, I fear, and I've got a feeling phone masts are either exempt from planning or always get the nod. Either way, I think you're in for a battle. Worth a go though.

Edited because apparently I can't type for toffee.

Loss of house value is a private interest and not a matter planning can legally take into account. You won't get anywhere with that line of argument.