Sep 18 2005 ic Wales

Campaign for independent study into health risks of masts

Louise Day, South Wales Echo

Pressure is mounting for independent checks to be carried out on the possible health risks of mobile telephone masts before they are built near people's homes.

The Vale of Glamorgan council is leading the way in a campaign to ensure that residents' concerns about the health risks that the mast could pose are given more weight.

And a battle to prevent the expansion of a mast in Barry is set to come to a head in the next few weeks.

The Vale council has written to local MPs, AMs and Carwyn Jones, the assembly's minister for environment, planning and the countryside calling for more research to be carried out into the possible health dangers of mobile telephone masts.

It follows an independent radio frequency test on the health risks from a mast in The Heathers, Barry, which residents have been campaigning against.

The test, paid for by the mobile phone company, showed the radiation from the mast fell within Government health guidelines.

Omega see "Base Stations, operating within strict national and international Guidelines, do not present a Health Risk?" under:
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/771911/

But residents are still concerned and will oppose the planning application which has already been made to the Vale council.

Residents leader Angie Homer said: 'We believe there is a potential health problem. We suffer nausea and headaches and there have bee three cases of cancer.'

Resident Chris Murphy said: 'Despite this test, we are deeply concerned about the health implications involved in having it there. We agree there should be more research into the possible health risks posed by these masts.'

The companies maintain there is no evidence for such risk.

A spokesman for Orange said the Government encouraged mobile phone companies to share masts where ever possible in order to reduce the overall number of masts.

'We are aware there is opposition to mobile phone masts, but the reality is that the local community want to use mobile phones and without masts the phones won't work,' he said.

by the staff of the Chester-le-Street Advertiser
advertiser.editorial@nne.co.uk

AN application for permission to erect a mobile phone mast on a north Durham housing estate has been withdrawn.

Operator O2 UK applied to Chester-le-Street District Council for approval to erect a 15-metre antenna in Pelaw Crescent, Chester-le-Street.

The application sparked outrage from residents, who said it was too near a grassed area where children play. They also said they were not convinced by reports that the masts were not harmful to people's health.

Planning officers from Chester-le-Street council prepared a report for the planning committee advising it to refuse permission.

The report said: "The height of the proposed installation, relevant to other buildings and street furniture in the area, is considered to represent a form of development inappropriate for the proposed location, which would be harmful to the character and visual amenity of the area.

"It is considered that the applicants have failed to recognise or address the concerns of local residents and parents of children attending nearby schools in relation to the public perception of harm relating to the siting of this telecommunication equipment in a residential area, close to a nursery and two schools.

"The proposal is unacceptable in that this would, because of its height and siting, represent an unacceptable visually intrusive form of development in this area."

After informing O2 of its intentions, the council received a letter from its planning agents, Turner and Partners, formally withdrawing the application. Richard Winn, of Turner and Partners, said: "We had to withdraw it because it was recommended for refusal and it is our policy to withdraw rather than have it refused.

"We also had to withdraw it because we thought the land belonged to County Highways and served a notice on them.

"We have subsequently found out it isn't, so if the planning application had been approved it would have been invalid. If it was refused, we would not have been able to appeal."

An O2 spokesman said the firm was not aware the application had been withdrawn and was awaiting confirmation from its agents.

Last month, O2 announced it was appealing against the council's decision to refuse permission to install a 12-metre signal transmitter on land south of Carlingford Road, on the Garden Farm Estate.

Burnley News 16.09.05

A DOGGED pressure group has lashed out at council plans to allow a mobile phone mast to be built on the Prairie playing fields.
Mobile phone giant O2 has been given permission to build the mast near allotments on council-owned land.

Despite a flurry of objections from annoyed residents, council leader Coun. Stuart Caddy says, as the mast is not on public land, it has the allowed the construction to take place further away from homes.
As with all mobile phone masts in the borough, it has been confirmed that emissions for the mast will be below internationally agreed levels.

Omega see "Base Stations, operating within strict national and international Guidelines, do not present a Health Risk" under:
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/771911/

However, Together Against Masts chairman Mr Dennis Cannon believes this makes little difference and residents could still be at risk from "harmful radiation". He said: "It could be that certain pieces of council land offer a potentially safer location, but the question of safer should be considered, rather than to say 'safe'.
"However, in practice, it is not necessarily the ones living the closest who are in the most danger.

"It has long been understood, and more recently confirmed in tests, that cancer clusters occur around the areas where the beams of greatest intensity strike the ground."

O2 will pay for the trees to be used to screen the mast from sight and Coun. Caddy also revealed plans to encourage mobile networks to share the masts.

In a bid to cut down on the number of new masts needed in the future, existing masts could instead be extended.

Again, Mr Cannon says he has a lot of reservations over the idea. He added: "Clearly with more than one operator there will be more than three beams of greatest intensity and so other areas will have concentrated microwave radiation.

"I understand the idea of not having a new set of people who will object to a new mast, but what about the people living close to an existing mast and who have already gone through the trauma of the original application and now find themselves with even more concentrated microwaves beaming on to their homes?

"Is it fair that they have to have even more radiation imposed upon them? Who would like to live close to a multi-powered mast?"

16 September 2005

Romford Recorder

16 September 2005

Parents who opposed a mobile phone mast being built near their children's school may soon face fighting to stop TWO masts being built.

Mobile phone company O2 wants to erect a 12.5 metre (41ft) mast and associated equipment cabinets and ancillary development on Airfield Way near its junction with Dowding Close.

This is close to the site in South End Road where T Mobile wanted to erect its mast last year and which the Parents' Association of St Albans RC Primary School in Heron Flight Avenue fought off last year.

T Mobile has now told the school it intends to make a second application to put a mast on the site even though its first application was turned down last year.

Now, the members of the Parents' Association have formed battle plans to fight off the latest planning application and have launched a petition and sending out protest letters for residents to sign and send to Havering Council.

PA committee member Simon Wiehe said: "We came back from the school holidays to find that O2 had written to the school with plans to site a mast in Airfield Way.

Underhand

"We are far from happy about this because we feel it has been underhand, by writing to the school during the holidays.

"We have only been left with a couple of weeks to make our objections known.

"Our concerns centre around the health risks of having a mast so near to the school, but Havering Council has told us we cannot object on these grounds as there is no proven link between these masts and health problems.

Omega there is a proven link between the masts and health problems. See under:
http://omega.twoday.net/topics/Wissenschaft+zu+Mobilfunk/
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Cancer+Cluster
http://www.buergerwelle.de/body_science.html

So instead we are objecting on the grounds of the location because it is planned for Green Belt land.

"Our main concerns are about the health risks though.

"In the Times newspaper last week it reported that a new report coming out states that excessive radiation can cause nausea, sleep disorders and lack of concentration in children."

The Parents' Association has also enlisted the support of Hornchurch MP James Brokenshire who is urging residents to send in their objections to the plans.

He said: "It is vital they exercise this right to ensure these latest proposals get rejected.

"I will continue to lobby for these applications to be rejected as they spoil the local environment and stand out like a sore thumb."

James Stevenson, community relations manager for O2, said: "We looked at the whole area and spoke to the council's planning people who were fairly sympathetic to us. That's why I'm surprised to hear that there are objections to it. I am very willing to meet with the residents to hear their concerns and speak to them about the health and safety issues as that seems to be their biggest fear."

Anyone wishing to object to the proposal should write to Havering Council before the closing date of Wednesday, September 28.

By Richard Wright
IOW Country Press

17.09.05

THE balloon has gone up over 3G's plans for a mobile phone mast close to a listed building.

City trader Tom Milligan has twice shown Seaview villagers what to expect by tethering a helium balloon floating more than 25 metres up to represent the height of the lattice tower, its transmitters and receiving dish.

The application by the phone giant for the Fairy Hill site, 62 metres from the Grade II listed Fairy Hill House, was submitted a week after it applied for a wooden mast on land at Barnsley Farm on the outskirts of Ryde belonging to former Island high sheriff and brewery boss Anthony Goddard.

The company said it needed permission for both and they are not alternatives.

Mr Milligan, who lives next door to Fairy Hill House, told Monday's meeting of Nettlestone and Seaview Parish Council: "It is no more than 10ft away from my land and will be visible from many, many parts of the village and beyond.

"I first used party balloons to show how big the mast will be and then a bigger balloon on Tuesday last week. "If people want to see just how tall this structure will be, I am planning to repeat the exercise between lunchtime and evening next Tuesday, weather permitting."

The land on which 3G wants to build the mast is owned by Seaview resident Mary Gedling.

Fairy Hill House resident Capt John Hounsfield emphasised how close the mast would be to the listed late-Georgian mansion, built in 1780. He said further health and safety information was emerging about the effects of radiation from phone masts following the neutral stance of the Stewart Report into its effects. "It appears parts of the Stewart Report are being overriden by the Health Protection Agency but that information is so fresh that it needs further study," he said.

Cllr Sarah Doran called for the IW Council to formulate a comprehensive policy. "The Island should have a policy to control mobile phone masts. We are told they only have a range of 2km so very soon, the Island will look like a porcupine on heat," she said.

Parish council planning committee chairman Cllr Peter Tuson said the IW Council had a masts moratorium on its own land but no policy for controlling installations elsewhere. He said the mast planned for Fairy Hill would be an eyesore next to the listed building and that planned for Bullen was close to Bullen Mead Nursery, where in 2001 a mast was refused because of the unacceptable impact it would have on the countryside.

The parish council objected to both masts because of the significant impact they would have on their areas.

16 September 2005

From Catherine

Medcross Group
http://www.cogreslab.co.uk/china.asp

Very important to pass this on.

As Colin worked in China he will know what the problems were. Perhaps the Chinese will have and be able to give a copy of anything he was involved in.

--------

From Karen Barratt

Recent press reports indicate that China has a terrible health and safety at work record. (6000 ? miners killed last year and very low standards on construction sites (no hard hats or protective clothing - resulting in injuries and deaths). Many of these workers at risk are rural migrants flooding into the cities to be part of the economic boom. The fact that life is cheap and there is obviously an acceptance of a certain degree of "expendibility", makes the policy on emission levels even more interesting ie the risk implicit in having less stringent controls is presumably too high even for the Chinese with their generally less precautionary attitude. I believe 99% of the world's mobile phones are made in China so they could hardly risk any health scare connected to the technology.

Derbyshire Evening Telegraph

09:30 - 15 September 2005

Councillors had a rare attack of unanimity last night by approving measures to confront the Government over the proliferation of mobile phone masts in the city.

Tory councillor for Chellaston Paul Willitts claimed that parts of Derby were "almost under siege" by phone masts.

He called for a halt to masts being built until health risks had been "satisfactorily assessed".

Despite proposed amendments from Labour and the Lib Dems, the spirit of Mr Willitt's proposal was carried unanimously.

Labour councillor Mark Tittley, who put forward one amendment, said the current law of allowing masts under 15 metres tall to bypass planning regulations was "ridiculous".

Council leader Chris Williamson said: "By joining together on this, I believe we can have a more effective voice."

By Richard Lyons

Sutton Guardian

A community in Carshalton Beeches has united to fight plans for a 3G mobile phone mast outside a church which runs a children's nursery.

The Rev Christopher Wheaton, of the Good Shepherd Church, Gaynesford Road, turned down an offer of £90,000 over 10 years to have a T-Mobile antennae built on church premises.

But, to the fury of residents, the telecommunications company responded by submitting plans for an 11.7m mast and equipment cabinet immediately outside the building.

In a bid to fight the development, a public meeting attended by 48 locals, Tom Brake MP and councillors Lal Hussein and Derek Yeo was held at the church on Wednesday, September 7.

A petition opposing the scheme signed by more than 600 residents will also be sent to Sutton Council, T-Mobile and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

"There are so many children coming to the pre-school on our site five days a week," said Mr Wheaton.

"The church is always seen as a safe place to bring your family and children and there's a perceived danger with mobile phone masts.

"We really feel we should do everything we can to encourage T-Mobile to put their mast in a place where there's less exposure."

Residents had until yesterday to put their objections to Sutton Council and planners have until October 5 to decide whether or not to reject the plans.

One resident, Jay Thanki, 30, of Kings Avenue, said the risks of third generation mobile phone masts were as yet unknown and vowed he would move home if the scheme went ahead.

Mr Thanki who lives with his wife Kinjal, 23, his parents and sister, said: "We are all very concerned. The children at the pre-school are very young and the mast is going to be emitting microwaves.

"My whole family will move if they put the mast up. We are going to get the house valued this week."

A council spokesman said the Government's planning legislation allows mobile phone companies to erect a mast which is under 15 metres without submitting a full planning application.

He said: "This application was for prior approval, which means the council can object to the siting or appearance of the equipment if it does not fit the local character."

10:56am Thursday 15th September 2005

KIRSTY GREEN

Walsall Advertiser

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10:30 - 15 September 2005

The landlady of a popular Walsall pub says residents and regulars futures will not be bright if Orange are allowed to go ahead with plans to erect a phone mast next to her pub.

Residents living close to the Longhorn pub in Sutton Road were written to by Orange informing them of the company's plans to apply for planning permission for a phone mast on council owned land adjacent to the Longhorn pub and visible from Sutton Road. Landlady Esther Bennett has already collected signatures from regulars opposed to the plans.

"Within one day of the petition launch a large number of local drinkers and residents have signed to express their opposition to the proposal of the French owned mobile phone company," she said.

A meeting held on Sunday, September 11 and organised by Derek Bennett, pub regular and chairman of the Walsall Wolverhampton UKIP Association also showed the strength of feeling against the pub.

Pheasey Park Farm councillors Adrian Andrew and Chris Towe attended the meeting to reassure residents they would be battling against the phone mast plans.

"We are totally opposed to this mast," said Cllr Towe.

"We have written to Orange asking them to remove the application from their agenda, we have asked them not to proceed with this.

"We have all the normal concerns about such an application, including health worries. It is no good the government saying there is no proof such masts are harmful to health because there is also no evidence that they are not," he added.

Omega there is proof that such masts are harmful to health. See under:
http://omega.twoday.net/topics/Wissenschaft+zu+Mobilfunk/
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Cancer+Cluster
http://www.buergerwelle.de/body_science.html

Protestors on the Turnberry estate in Bloxwich are calling on their neighbours to formally object to a proposed phone mast they fear is a health hazard.

Objectors to a T-mobile mast Yields Field in Stafford Road say they believed they had beaten the application when it was rejected by councillors earlier this year, but the company is appealing against this decision.

Resident Simon Horton said people must make their objections know to the council by the Thursday, September 22.

Mr Horton, a freelance broadcaster who has believed on the estate for three years, said it was important people spoke up, especially on an estate with so many children.

BY BEN MURCH

Bath Chronicle

11:00 - 15 September 2005

Protest groups have banded together to protest against plans for mobile phone masts at three sites in Bear Flat. Members of the newly formed Bear Flat and Alexandra Park Alliance claim mobile phone company O2 has tried to drive a wedge between them and force its plans through.

Last year, the company won a planning appeal to put up a mast just metres away from people's homes on the grass verge between Wellsway and Bloomfield Road.

The decision was taken despite massive protests, but the communications giant then agreed to consider alternative sites.

It has since applied for permission to site the mast in Alexandra Park, sparking renewed opposition from a different group of residents.

Wellsway campaigners face the danger of O2 reverting to its original plans if the Alexandra Park campaign is successful.

A spokesperson for the residents claimed the company had tried to use this threat to divide the two groups but has only succeeded in forcing them closer together.

A third group, which is campaigning against Hutchinson 3G's plans to put a mast on top of the Smiles store at Wellsway, has also given the alliance its backing.

Sue Boyle, spokeswoman for the Alexandra Park group, said: "We realised that O2's policy was to divide us from the Bear Flat protesters.

"Our aspiration was to join forces with them instead. We believe it is possible to stop O2 putting masts on either site. We have to believe that, because we all think that each site is as unsuitable as the other.

"At Alexandra Park there are environmental issues and in both cases it would be too close to people.

"We are determined not to look at them as alternatives, although that is the O2 strategy. We will fight tooth and nail to make sure it doesn't go on Alexandra Park and make sure it doesn't go on Wellsway either."

Frank Thynne, acting co-ordinator of the Wellsway O2 protesters, said: "O2 isn't consulting, it's bullying.

"In approaching the Alexandra Park group and reminding them it is an alternative to the Wellsway site, where it already has permission, it is clearly an attempt to divide us.

"If O2 succeeds in dividing us, we are going to be losers."

Mr Thynne added the protesters were not inherently anti-mobile phones or masts, and wanted to reduce antagonism by working more closely with operators to find sites.

Bath and North East Somerset Council officers and members heavily criticised companies for failing to consult residents when they discussed an application from Orange for a mast in Twerton at a public meeting earlier this year.

Peter Sellwood, of the Hutchinson 3G protest group, said only by working together could people in Bear Flat prevent mobile phone companies pushing through applications for masts on unsuitable sites.

Hutchinson 3G's bid for a mast at the Smiles site will be determined by a planning inspector, following the council's failure to reach a decision.

But protesters are still hopeful the company can be convinced to share a mast with O2 at a new site further away from people's homes.

O2 has agreed to hold a public meeting on its plans on Monday, September 26, at a time and venue to be confirmed. Nobody from the company was available to comment.

b.murch@bathchron.co.uk