WYCHAVON councillors have supported a move to encourage local MPs to back a private members' Bill giving local authorities more say on the siting of mobile phone and Tetra (terrestrial trunked radio) masts.

Members of the council's development control committee backed a recommendation that the council should call on the three MPs whose constituencies cover Wychavon to support the Telecommunica-tion (Planning Control) Bill.

The Bill is due to have its second reading in Parliament on Friday, February 24. In a report to the committee this week, Gill Collin, head of planning, said: "The Bill provides for a more robust planning regime while not preventing the roll-out of the mobile telecommunications infrastructure.

"More sensitive locations would be protected from future development and local planning authorities would be given more power to control telecommunications development in their areas."

At the moment local authorities are only consulted about proposed mast locations on technical planning grounds.

She said Mast Sanity, a campaign group for the safe siting of mobile phone and Tetra masts, has asked the council to support the Bill.

"While the council does not usually associate itself with pressure groups, members will be aware that telecommunications masts are a very emotive issue and proposals for new ones usually attract vociferous and sustained objections from residents."

"It is therefore recommended that the MPs responsible for Wychavon District are requested to support the passage of the bill."

The recommendation will now to Wychavon's Executive Board on March 7.