Tally Ho Mobile Mast success

3.21.26pm GMT Tue 2nd Jan 2007

Stephen Lloyd and residents campaigning against the mast

The proposed mobile mast at the Tally Ho pub in Old Town is to be withdrawn for 'operational reasons', says Punch Taverns, owners of the Tally Ho Public House.

Stephen Lloyd, Lib Dem parliamentary campaigner and Old Town resident, who led the campaign against the application said: "This is sensational news and has been a wonderful Christmas present for local residents. I am well aware just how skewed the law is toward the applicant whenever these giant telecommunication companies want to install a mobile phone mast and the chances of stopping them via the planning process is always remote. Consequently, I came up with the idea of contacting 500 local residents who lived near the Tally Ho pub and as well as urging them to write to Eastbourne Borough Councils planning committee making their opposition known, I also asked that they join me in writing to the owners of the Tally Ho pub, Punch Taverns. My thinking was that if large numbers of potential customers wrote directly to the Chief Executive of Punch Taverns, he would soon get the message and think twice before agreeing to take the money and install a mobile phone mast at the pub.

Lloyd added: "It is fantastic news for local residents that this tactic has worked. I received a copy of a letter from Punch Taverns just before the New Year, saying that they had 'considered this application in detail and have decided not to proceed for operational reasons'. This is a sensational development, however, though we have won this one it is important we remain vigilant. The Council has confirmed to me the planning application is still going ahead on the 9th January because though Punch Taverns have formally withdrawn, if the application is passed they may choose to come back at some time in the future. On that basis I will still be speaking against the mobile mast application at the planning meeting and presenting the petitions signed by so many local residents who made their opposition crystal clear.

The campaign against the Tally Ho mobile mast has been a great result for People Power. We showed it could be done with B&Q, and now the same has been achieved with this mobile phone application. Here's hoping that 2007 sees us achieving the same result the whole Town is working so hard for; stopping the cuts at DGH."