§ Mr. WhittingdaleTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the maximum distance is from a mobile phone base station that a school can be located in order to meet the definition 'near' thus requiring the relevant body of the school to be consulted under paragraph 62 of Planning Policy Guidance Note 8 (Telecommunications). [133886]
§ Yvette CooperThe Government have not defined the maximum distance from a mobile phone base station that a school can be located in order to meet the definition "near" thus requiring the relevant body of the school to be consulted under paragraph 62 of Planning Policy Guidance Note 8 (Telecommunications).
The Code of Best Practice on Mobile Phone Network Development published in November 2002 states that in determining whether a school or college should be consulted the following factors should be taken into account by network operators and local planning authorities:
the proposed site is on school/college grounds;the proposed development would be seen from the school/college or its grounds;725Wthe site is on the main access point used by pupils/students to the school/college;there is a history of concern about base stations within the local community;the local planning authority has requested consultation with the school/college:the school/college has requested that it be included in any consultation (DfES has advised schools and colleges that if they wish to be consulted about base stations in their locality they should notify the local planning authority setting out the circumstance in which they would wish to be consulted).