Campaigning residents to fight mast plan to bitter end
Apr 21 2005
Surrey online
By Sarah Cooper
MEADVALE residents have turned to modern technology to highlight the impact a 10-metre mobile phone mast would have on their community.
T-Mobile wants to build the mast out-side The Ship pub, in Copse Road.
The project has sparked a backlash, and worried residents have now completed an artist's impression of how the mast would look - and are determined to stop it becoming a reality.
Most of them have small children and are concerned for their well-being.
There are also concerns over the number of elderly people living nearby and the devaluing potential of the mast on home prices.
Sharon Scotton, who is one of the main organisers of the Meadvale Against Masts campaign, and lives just metres from the proposed site, said: "I have three children. It's a great concern. One of my children has immune difficulties. It could put her at greater risk.
"It's going to make me angry and upset every time I look outside."
The group has produced draft objection letters to hand out in door-to-door calls to help people raise their concerns.
They also claim drawings produced by T-Mobile are misleading as they think the height of the mast is going to be more than is shown.
To show what they believe is the correct height they have taken a picture of a 10metre mast and imposed it onto a photo of the pub.
Fellow protester Nicola Mitchell, who also lives in Copse Road, has been told the value of her property could go down with the mast there.
She said: "I am absolutely outraged that such a large company can plonk something in the middle of a residential area without a thought for the community.
"I have two small children and I have a duty of care to them and my property is my main asset."
She added: "I am feeling sick with the worry."
Ruth Adam, who lives in Arbutus Close, said: "I feel that masts shouldn't be situated in residential areas while there is any doubt on the effect on people's health."
The mother-of-two added: "There is the most tremendous opposition. I am stunned by the opposition that I have come across.
"I don't think we're ever going to stop protesting against it."
A spokesman for T-Mobile said: "T-Mobile understands there sometimes can be concerns when locating base stations in communities.
"Based on more than 40 years of research, T-Mobile is confident that its base stations, operating within strict national and international guidelines, do not present a health risk to any member of the public.
"Property values are based upon a variety of market conditions and when buying a property the judgements people make are entirely personal, reflecting these many different factors."
Surrey online
By Sarah Cooper
MEADVALE residents have turned to modern technology to highlight the impact a 10-metre mobile phone mast would have on their community.
T-Mobile wants to build the mast out-side The Ship pub, in Copse Road.
The project has sparked a backlash, and worried residents have now completed an artist's impression of how the mast would look - and are determined to stop it becoming a reality.
Most of them have small children and are concerned for their well-being.
There are also concerns over the number of elderly people living nearby and the devaluing potential of the mast on home prices.
Sharon Scotton, who is one of the main organisers of the Meadvale Against Masts campaign, and lives just metres from the proposed site, said: "I have three children. It's a great concern. One of my children has immune difficulties. It could put her at greater risk.
"It's going to make me angry and upset every time I look outside."
The group has produced draft objection letters to hand out in door-to-door calls to help people raise their concerns.
They also claim drawings produced by T-Mobile are misleading as they think the height of the mast is going to be more than is shown.
To show what they believe is the correct height they have taken a picture of a 10metre mast and imposed it onto a photo of the pub.
Fellow protester Nicola Mitchell, who also lives in Copse Road, has been told the value of her property could go down with the mast there.
She said: "I am absolutely outraged that such a large company can plonk something in the middle of a residential area without a thought for the community.
"I have two small children and I have a duty of care to them and my property is my main asset."
She added: "I am feeling sick with the worry."
Ruth Adam, who lives in Arbutus Close, said: "I feel that masts shouldn't be situated in residential areas while there is any doubt on the effect on people's health."
The mother-of-two added: "There is the most tremendous opposition. I am stunned by the opposition that I have come across.
"I don't think we're ever going to stop protesting against it."
A spokesman for T-Mobile said: "T-Mobile understands there sometimes can be concerns when locating base stations in communities.
"Based on more than 40 years of research, T-Mobile is confident that its base stations, operating within strict national and international guidelines, do not present a health risk to any member of the public.
"Property values are based upon a variety of market conditions and when buying a property the judgements people make are entirely personal, reflecting these many different factors."
Starmail - 22. Apr, 14:10
