Dear Supporters,

Thank you for your continued dedication to our campaign regarding the telecommunications mast near Sketchley Hill Primary School. We want to provide you with an important update on our formal complaint process.

We have now received the final Stage 2 response from Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council. Unfortunately, the Council has decided not to uphold our complaint.

The Council’s position is that they have met their minimum legal requirements for consultation and that the planning decision was adequate. We fundamentally disagree with this conclusion, as we believe there is significant evidence demonstrating that the process was flawed and that the serious concerns of both the school and local residents have been dismissed without proper consideration.

We are, of course, very disappointed with this outcome, but we want to be clear: this is not the end of the road.

The Council's response itself directs us to the next stage for challenging their decision: escalating the case to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. The Ombudsman is an independent body that investigates complaints of 'maladministration' by councils, and we intend to pursue this route vigorously.

This is where we need your help to build the strongest possible case.

Our arguments will focus on several key areas where we believe the Council has failed, including:

An Inadequate and Flawed Consultation Process: The consultation period was extremely limited, and the detailed concerns raised by the school and its governors appear to have been ignored.
Disregard for Legitimate Concerns: The serious issues raised about the mast's proximity to the youngest pupils' classrooms and outdoor learning areas were not adequately addressed.
Misinterpretation of Regulations: There is a clear conflict between the Council’s interpretation of the rules regarding works to protected trees on school-owned land and the expert advice from Leicestershire County Council's own Tree Inspector.
Next Steps & How You Can Help

We are now preparing our formal submission to the Ombudsman. To make this as effective as possible, we are hoping to arrange a meeting in the near future to coordinate our efforts.

We are making a direct appeal to our community: if you have any advice, expertise (particularly in planning law, telecommunications regulations, or environmental issues), or any information you believe could support our application to the Ombudsman, please get in touch. Every piece of evidence and expert insight could make a significant difference.

Thank you once again for standing with us. We are determined to ensure the voices of our community and the wellbeing of our children are properly heard and protected. We will keep you updated on arrangements for the meeting.

Sincerely,