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By Cllr Shirley Boyt
I have been a borough councillor for three years now and it has been a steep learning curve.
People often ask me what is involved and I usually say that I attend a lot of meetings – committees, working groups, steering groups on topics ranging from arts and culture to waste and recycling.
Fortunately, since the pandemic many of those meetings are held remotely, but there are others where physical attendance is mandatory otherwise you are not allowed to vote.
With regard to the work in the ward I tell people it generally comes down to three P’s – Planning, Parking and Phone Masts. And issues arise from all of these because of a failure to consider the impact of actions on others.
Take parking for example – I could fill this column with examples of terrible parking but I will just ask these questions – to those who park on the pavement, why is it okay to force wheelchair users or parents with buggies into the road?
Van owners – I realise you have to park the van somewhere but does it have to be so close to a driveway that it makes it dangerous for the resident to pull out?
To all those whose parked carelessly along a bus route – is it okay that the bus driver on more than one occasion had to reverse almost the entire length of the road and skip a section of the route entirely, causing major inconvenience to the driver and bus users alike?
In planning terms my ward has none of the big developments that are going on elsewhere in the borough; most are simply extensions to existing dwellings.
The problem is that once upon a time the planning department held all the power – but not anymore. During the last 12 years the Government has relaxed planning laws to such a degree that huge extensions can be built under ‘Permitted Development’ rights and there are many residents who choose to build to the absolute limit without any consideration for their neighbours. There is no requirement to display a notice in these situations so often the first a neighbour knows about an extension is the arrival of a portaloo! Even when an extension requires planning consent it isn’t always plain sailing and often near neighbours are not notified; an elderly lady once told me that she can not bear to open her curtains in the mornings anymore because of the ‘monstrosity across the road’. To anyone reading this who is planning to extend their property please talk to your neighbours, listen to their views and try to make adjustments, so future hostilities can be avoided.
Phone masts give councillors and residents a whole new level of stress. Everyone, it seems wants a great phone signal and apparently 5G is the way forward. The snag is that nobody wants a huge 5G mast and a bunch of cabinets outside their house.
Unfortunately, the Government has given statutory powers to the telecoms operators and it is difficult for the council to refuse permission and even when it does so, the applicant is likely to lodge an appeal.
On Highways land – pavements, verges, roundabouts etc, it is almost impossible for the council to refuse.
Similarly, for smaller masts, up to 15m the operators do not even have to ask the Council for permission.
So how does a humble councillor balance the views of her residents against the 5G needs of the entire nation?
By talking to the applicants, suggesting alternative locations which would be less contentious, changing the colour of the mast and cabinets to minimise the impact, reminding them that their code of practice states they should share sites with other operators where possible. In other words, entering into a dialogue with them, getting them to understand the impact of their plans on residents.
Life would be more pleasant for us all if the three P’s were replaced by the three C’s – Conversation, Consideration, Compromise.
Cllr Shirley Boyt is a Labour ward member for Bulmershe and Whitegates
