MP Calls For Boycott of 02

11.49.15am GMT Fri 20th Feb 2004

Susan Kramer, Lib Dem Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Richmond Park and Jenny Tonge MP meeting local protestors camped out on North Road

In a dramatic move this week, Richmond's Lib Dem MP Dr Jenny Tonge called for a boycott of the phone company O2. The call came in response to efforts being made by the company to put up a mobile phone mast in North Road by Kew Station, despite planning permission being in dispute.

Dr Jenny Tonge MP: "O2's decision to place their phone mast in the middle of a pavement is beyond belief, and goes completely against the wishes of the local community. When I visited on Tuesday local people had camped out over night despite the cold and wet conditions to protest against the decision."

"What makes the situation even more frustrating is that O2 have totally ignored a consultation currently underway by Kew Councillors on a proposal to invisibly house 4 or 5 phone masts in a brick tower known as the Campanile in Kew Gardens. This would remove the need to build the 10 to 15 masts currently planned for Kew."

"O2's decision to completely ignore the consultation and to press ahead with their own plans irrespective of the views of the local community is appalling. This is why I am calling on local people to boycott the company until they start listening to the community."

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