PARLIMENTARY questions could be raised over a bid to change planning laws over telephone masts. MP Oliver Heald has already written to Communities Secretary Hazel Blears on the issue. But he is yet to receive an answer and has promised that he will raise

PARLIMENTARY questions could be raised over a bid to change planning laws over telephone masts.

MP Oliver Heald has already written to Communities Secretary Hazel Blears on the issue.

But he is yet to receive an answer and has promised that he will raise the matter in Parliamentary questions.

The move comes after Royston district councillor Peter Burt gained support from members of North Herts District Council in calling for a changing in planning procedure.

Cllr Burt wants all new telephone mast proposals to be the subject of a planning application.

Under current planning laws it is only masts above a certain height that need planning permission.

Cllr Burt said: "We have seen the development of a large number of masts in the area and we are calling for local authorities to take decisions on all masts.

"We want to see a common approach and one way is to have just one planning authority taking decisions," he said.

- In Royston, there have been a number of protests over the siting of mobile telephone masts.

One involved erecting a mast in Stamford Avenue, overlooking St Mary's School, while residents in Palace Gardens were concerned about plans to place a mast close to the Royston telephone exchange.