Adam Price MP and Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM have welcomed recommendations that mobile phone masts should be subject to the full planning process. Currently, new mobile phone masts are only subject to the ‘prior approval’ procedure. A report commissioned by the Welsh government has now recommended that all masts should be subject to full planning permission.

The Carmarthenshire AM and MP have argued that tougher regulations are necessary to protect the health and well being of Welsh communities but need not hamper Wales’s technological advancement.

Plaid AM Rhodri Glyn Thomas said: "Plaid has long been concerned about the impact that insensitively sited masts can have on the health of Welsh communities.

"The current procedure is clearly inadequate and can mean that masts are insensitively sited, for example near schools, hospitals or homes for the elderly. A change to the regular planning procedure should ensure that masts are properly sited in order to protect the health and well being of the local community. Adam Price MP added: "There is no reason why these proposals should prevent the further development of telecommunications masts, nor should they restrict the ability of people to use a mobile phone. This should be seen as a positive step that addresses the important concerns of Welsh communities and allows them to have their say in the planning decisions that affect them."