Victory in fight to stop mast
BY BOB BEALE B.BEALE
11:00 - 21 March 2005
Campaigners in St Werburghs have won their fight to stop a mobile phone mast being built on their doorstep. Brymain Investments Limited, which owns the proposed site at Minto Road Trading Estate, has written to campaign leader Reuben Woods to say it is withdrawing from its proposed agreement with phone operators T-Mobile to allow a 39ft mast to be built on the site.
Property manager John Turner wrote: "Whether or not the concerns of local residents are scientifically justifiable is not material to this decision.
"The objectors are sincere in their concerns and the directors have now decided that they wish to be 'good neighbours' and not the cause of fear and anxiety to people in the nearby community."
The St Werburghs Collective - 20 residents who live close to the proposed site of the mast - wrote to Brymain saying grave concerns about the health risk forced many of them to consider moving house.
The letter also threatened legal action if any of then suffered a drop in the value of their homes or ill health.
The withdrawal is also in response to meetings between the residents and the company.
Mr Woods said: "Our community is delighted with this decision.
"We feel that a blanket of fear has been lifted from St Werburghs and we would like to thank the directors of Brymain Investments for acknowledging our concerns.
"We will continue to fight any further proposals to build a mast in our area and will be keeping an eye open for any public notice of applications to obtain planning permission."
But it seems that the victory may be short-lived.
T Mobile spokesman David Hanney said: "We are naturally disappointed at this turn of events.
"However we still need to acquire a site in this area and will continue with our search for an alternative to upgrade our network."
http://tinyurl.com/49lne
11:00 - 21 March 2005
Campaigners in St Werburghs have won their fight to stop a mobile phone mast being built on their doorstep. Brymain Investments Limited, which owns the proposed site at Minto Road Trading Estate, has written to campaign leader Reuben Woods to say it is withdrawing from its proposed agreement with phone operators T-Mobile to allow a 39ft mast to be built on the site.
Property manager John Turner wrote: "Whether or not the concerns of local residents are scientifically justifiable is not material to this decision.
"The objectors are sincere in their concerns and the directors have now decided that they wish to be 'good neighbours' and not the cause of fear and anxiety to people in the nearby community."
The St Werburghs Collective - 20 residents who live close to the proposed site of the mast - wrote to Brymain saying grave concerns about the health risk forced many of them to consider moving house.
The letter also threatened legal action if any of then suffered a drop in the value of their homes or ill health.
The withdrawal is also in response to meetings between the residents and the company.
Mr Woods said: "Our community is delighted with this decision.
"We feel that a blanket of fear has been lifted from St Werburghs and we would like to thank the directors of Brymain Investments for acknowledging our concerns.
"We will continue to fight any further proposals to build a mast in our area and will be keeping an eye open for any public notice of applications to obtain planning permission."
But it seems that the victory may be short-lived.
T Mobile spokesman David Hanney said: "We are naturally disappointed at this turn of events.
"However we still need to acquire a site in this area and will continue with our search for an alternative to upgrade our network."
http://tinyurl.com/49lne
Starmail - 22. Mär, 18:58
