This week the potential problems surrounding the installation of telecommunication masts for mobile phones have been highlighted, with the Fowey mast application going to appeal, following Restormel borough council's original refusal to grant permission - and with the proposed mast at Millbrook being the subject of a U turn by Caradon district council.

In fact mobile phone mast planning applications are causing controversy over the whole country. Currently there are 20,000 masts erected but, depending upon who you ask, it seems this number will rise between 70,000 and l00,000 within the next five years.

It seems clear to me that the government needs to reconsider its policy relating to these masts. At present the companies have 'permitted development rights' which enable them to receive automatic planning permission for masts up to 15 metres high.

Mercury Communica-tions received permission for their mast at Millbrook under this regulation, but subsequently, following a ruling in Leeds, it became clear that the 15 metre height had to include the antennae, and not just the mast. Following my request to Caradon district council they decided to ask Mercury to stop any further development on the site, and submit a full planning application. I very much hope Mercury will obey this request and demonstrate that they are really prepared to take local opinion into account.

It is my firm view that such Permitted Develo-pment Rights should now be discontinued. They were originally agreed by the Conservative government to facilitate the swift establishment of full UK coverage for mobile phones. That may have been entirely acceptable then, but now coverage is complete and new masts are being built purely to address demand.

These masts should now be subject to the rigours of a full planning application. The thought of another 80,000 masts springing up all over the country, many of which we can do nothing about, is simply horrific.

Also high on the agenda for Cornwall and the rest of Britain this week will be the Farmers' Summit being held by the Prime Minister yesterday (Thursday). It surely does not take much to see the problems, so I hope that the Prime Minister will focus attention on the solutions, which need to be quick and clear. I hope that decisions will be made to address the fundamental short-term crises rather than consider medium and long-term strategies which, for some farmers, will be irrelevant as they will have already gone bankrupt.