Without consulting local communities, the mobile phone company EE has chosen two stunningly beautiful hillsides on the Quantock Hills for telecommunication masts. If built on these sites in the villages of Aisholt and Broomfield, the masts will seriously harm the unique and ancient Quantock landscape enjoyed by many thousands of local people and visitors from across the UK and abroad.

EE is not seriously considering alternative sites that would have much less visual impact on the landscape. Yet, in ANOBs (areas of outstanding national beauty) such as the Quantocks, telecomms companies are required to consult local communities and amenity groups about where best to site masts.

The proposed masts are intended to fill small gaps in the communications network for police, ambulance and fire brigade.

We, the undersigned, call upon Sedgemoor District Council and Somerset West & Taunton District Council to reject EE's planning applications for masts on the Aisholt and Broomfield sites on the grounds of EE's failure to consult local people. 

We also call upon EE to withdraw their planning applications and begin genuine consultations with local parish councils and amenity groups about alternative sites for the proposed masts.