CONSERVATIVE MP Jeremy Hunt took a leading role in the parliamentary debate surrounding the Telecommunications Masts (Planning Control) Bill when it was read for the second time on March 3. The South West Surrey MP rushed back to Westminster from a constituency engagement to drive home the message that there needs to be more regulation on where mobile phone operators are able to erect new masts.He said: “Many people are understandably concerned about the health side effects of mobile masts. Whilst the science is unproven at this stage, government guidelines suggest taking a precautionary approach. That’s why we need a level playing field in the planning process, rather than special exemptions for mobile phone operators.”Mr Hunt has taken a significant interest in the positioning of telecommunications masts after mobile phone operator Orange tried to site a mast outside the Bourne Community School in Farnham. Working with local campaigners Nikki Hearnshaw and Ray Cuckow, Jeremy met representatives from Orange who have informally indicated they are now unlikely to pursue this particularly option.During last week’s debate, Mr Hunt said he believed more needs to be done to change the current legislative framework which tends to side with the operators and not residents.He said: “I had a case in which Orange wanted to site a mast right outside a school in Farnham. One of the problems with the current legislative framework is that it allows operators to be extremely arrogant in their dealings with local residents.“In that case, the response from Orange was ‘If you don’t want the mast outside your school, that’s fine. But can you find us somewhere else to put it?’ I feel it is inappropriate for a mobile phone operator to be able to say such a thing.”Mr Hunt and his colleagues are awaiting a report from the Government which has been promised for more than a year. It is hoped this will be published in April and will give a better indication of the Government’s plans to tackle the erection of mobile phone masts.