Mobile phone masts appeal decisions ‘made according to planning law’

Posted 26/04/2012

The Scottish government has defended the way it handles appeals relating to the building of mobile phone masts in the country.A spokesman claimed appeals of this nature are decided on a case-by-case basis, with a number of factors taken into account, including planning law.Local circumstances and available evidence is also considered before a final decision is made, they told BBC News.Conservative MSP Alex Johnstone called for an explanation of why such a high number of “contentious” decisions on mobile phone masts are overturned.Research indicated council decisions on mobile phone masts were twice as likely to be overturned on appeal as they were to be upheld, which the Conservatives claim is a “blatant disregard” for local decision-making.Councils across Scotland were backed by Holyrood planning law experts on just eight occasions.Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson stated it also shows centralisation is creeping in from the Scottish National Party, while the Conservatives stand for localism.Posted by Charles Webb