The MCofS has welcomed the Scottish Executive announcement that telecommunications masts have been brought under full planning control. The new planning measures should end the free-for-all erection of masts across the Scottish countryside, which has resulted in significant damage to our hills and mountains.

Mobile telephone companies have found it easy to install new masts over the last few years, because masts have been sheltered from the main planning system by being designated as "permitted development". The MCofS has campaigned for the removal of this permitted development status since 1998 and has continually expressed concerns that the longer the masts remained outwith the main planning system the greater the damage to our mountains.

We are pleased that the Scottish Executive has acted, but unfortunately, in many areas the damage is done now. In the rush to get their damage in before the change in the rules, the phone companies have caused havoc over the last few years with hill top masts and bulldozed tracks leading to the masts.

Under the previous planning arrangements masts under 15 metres in height were permitted (i.e. operators did not need to apply for planning permission), but from 23rd July 2001 onwards all ground based masts will require planning permission.

The Scottish Executive news release announcing this change in the planning rules can be found at: www.scotland.gov.uk/news/2001/06/se1534.asp,
and the full National Planning Policy Guidline (NPPG 19) at www.scotland.gov.uk/library3/planning/nppg/nppg19-00.asp

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