RSGB response to planning petition

The RSGB is aware of a current petition circulating amateur radio social media calling for the removal of the need for planning permission for amateur radio masts and antennas. In recent years here have been a number of previous petitions calling for similar consideration, all of which have failed to meet the 10,000 signatures required to get a response to the petition and the 100,000 needed  to have it debated in Parliament.

Sadly the 100,000 threshold to have the proposal debated exceeds the total number of licensees currently issued, and with similar past petitions attracting signature numbers ranging from 33 to 4248 signatures, that equates to less than 5% of the amateur radio community. With such a high bar to be considered worthwhile for a debate in parliament, and so few signing the petitions in the past, it could be wrongly interpreted that this is not even a major concern for the amateur radio community and thus potentially counterproductive.

The RSGB has in the past lobbied both the Westminster and Scottish Governments to ask that direction be given to planners that simple wire antennas be classed as de minimalist and not require planning permission. Both Governments refused, stating it was a matter for the Local Planning Authority (usually the Council) to decide and ultimately the Courts in the event of an appeal.

The RSGB’s Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) provides a letter of support to members who request it, to accompany their planning application/additional information to Councils. Whilst proposals which include lattice towers have a lower success rate due to their perceived visual presence, the majority of other planning applications that cross The Planning Advisory Committee’s desk pass first time or on appeal.

The Planning Advisory Committee also provides a planning guide for RSGB members (which can be found at rsgb.org/pac) and gives information to Local Planning Authorities on amateur-radio-related planning matters as requested.

Len Paget, GM0ONX
Board Director, Board Liaison for the Planning Advisory Committee, and previous PAC Chair

For background information, these are just some of the previous petitions:

https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/202179 https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/167483 https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/652720

Category: RSGB Notices