LEWIS HANNAM
Norwich Evening News

05 August 2005 12:02

Campaigners have called for Norfolk Police to axe its new multi-million pound mobile handset system because of health fears.

Norwich North MP Ian Gibson wants the new communications network, called Tetra, to be stopped until its effects on the brain are fully known.

Families in North Walsham, where the system has been installed on top of the police station, back Dr Gibson's move.

The private company behind the Tetra masts, mobile phone giant O2 Airwave, says health fears are unfounded and ambulances will also soon be using the system.

Dr Gibson said: "There is still widespread concern about the safety of Tetra masts, particularly the effects on the health of members of the police force and the public in the vicinity of masts.

"The issue needs to be fully considered and reviewed — there is a feeling that this system has been rushed through.

"The Government should fund independent research into areas where cancer clusters have arisen around masts, with the Office of National Statistics providing information on actual cases of cancer and motor neurone disease."

The primary safety concern related to Tetra masts is that they use a form of microwave radiation at a frequency similar to electrical activity in the brain.

Fears have been raised they have caused a range of health problems, from minor headaches to cancer.

A family in North Walsham has been spearheading a campaign to get the Tetra mast there taken down.

Matthew Pennington, founder member of the Campaign Against Tetra Siting, is planning to go to the High Court to get the mast at North Walsham police station taken down.

Mr Pennington, 42, who lives with his wife Rachel Kirk and three-year-old son Henry, is not confident about getting the police network stopped.

He said: "I fear we are on a hiding to nothing at the moment. My big concern is that no masts are being refused anywhere else in the country."

Last year families near the police station mast claimed it was making people feel sick.

About six police officers also fell ill voicing fears of a link between their illness with the mast.

Susan Moore, a spokeswoman for O2 Airwave, said: "Health and safety is at the heart of everything that we do because of the nature of the services.

"There has never been any concrete evidence to suggest there are any health risks related to the masts."

She said the firm had just won the contract to provide the same service as it does for the police to ambulance trusts, by 2008.

The Tetra network is a Home Office initiative costing about £3 billion, it started in 2001 and its rollout is now complete across the country, Norfolk's network was finalised in May.

It involves 3,370 base stations being set up nationwide; all of which must be fully operational by the end of 2005.

Police have praised the Tetra system for being clear and above criminal detection.

Have you suffered poor health because of a mast? Telephone Evening News reporter Lewis Hannam on (01603) 772428 or e-mail lewis.hannam@archant.co.uk

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Perhaps now is the time to lobby your local MP to add to the call in Norfolk? Remember, we don't have to have Airwave TETRA.

Tetrapol is available which is cheaper and needs less masts for coverage. Has anyone heard of any ill-health around Tetrapol? Perhaps we need to discuss this. Again, your MP is the route to ask for a change to Tetrapol.

Sandi

Can we all put our heads together and see how we can assist the RSPCA.

----- Original Message ----- From: "stephen" To: "Jackie Ballard" < Sent: Tuesday, August 09, 2005 5:26 PM Subject: Re: re pulsed microwave radiation

Many thanks for your reply and also for your condolences. With regards the absence of a response from the Deputy PM, this is yet another sign of our Government, entrusted with the health and well being of its citizens, choosing to ignore adverse health effects in favour of the multi billion pound telecommunication industry. My concern is that whilst humans make the choice to use mobile phones (myself and partner have long since given up owning a mobile phone), animals in most cases have no option other than to suffer the radiation from the 40,000 plus mobile phone base stations that service them, plus thousands more Tetra base stations, wireless home networks and DECT phones installed in their environment.

Can I ask if you can chase this matter up with the ODPM and I am more than willing to assist in any way possible, e.g. asking others such as acclaimed academics within the field, namely Dr Alfonso Balmori Martinez, Biologist, Spain (copied into this email) to support your/our concerns..

Stephen


----- Original Message ----- From: "Jackie Ballard" To: <stephen.kearney Sent: Tuesday, August 09, 2005 4:30 PM Subject: re pulsed microwave radiation

Dear Mr Kearney

Thank you for your recent email. I have not received any reply from the Deputy PM and I imagine the long silence even in response to my chase up reminder, means that he will not respond.

I am sorry to hear about your cat's experience and will forward your email to our Chief Veterinary Advisor to see if he has come across any other similiar examples. Jackie Ballard

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Here's a copy of my email to Jackie Ballard.

Best regards,

Gill Lyden



EMR emissions causing ill health.
To: Jackie Ballard
From: Gill Lyden
Date: Fri, 5 Aug 2005 10:05:28 EDT An: executive@rspca.org.uk

Dear Jackie Ballard,

I was disturbed to receive a copy of this email as it reflects happenings in my village, Kensworth in 2002 when a cat and a dog (in different houses 20 to 40 metres from an Orange mast which had been activated in Sept. 2001and where humans have experienced symptoms ever since - ongoing!) both developed cancer after a perion of around six months :-

1)howling or yowling in apparent pain.

2) being restless but apparently exhausted.

3) The dog developed small growths on his paws and neck; frequenty vomited; refused food etc. The vet gave medication which did not work and the dog died.

4) The cat developed a tumour in it's throat after changing the habits of it's lifetime by staying in alll day instead of going hunting, lying about exhausted and also voniting frequently and refusing food. The cat had an operation to remove the tumour. was never able to eat proper food again and died three years later.

The white bloodcell count of these animals is unknown but the raised white bloodcell count of teh animal in the folowing email is significant. When the Russians bombarded the American Embassy in Tchaikovsky Street, Moscow with radar (ElectroMagnetic Radio frequency emissions) from 1960s to 70s, many of the embassy staff had 14% raised white blodcell count and Ambassador Walter J Stoessell eventually died of a leukaemia-like disease (white bloodcells apparently proliferate in the case of Leukaemia). recently we have found 2 cases of raised white bloodcell count 100 metres from the mast.

There are reports of increased cases of Leukaemia amongst children in this country along with the proliferation of mobile phone masts. Our villagers suffer from insomnia, headaches, nausea, vertigo, earache and tinnitus, ulcerated mouths and thoats; severe nosebleeds etc. near the mast. several people are inable to sleep in there fromt bedrooms and one man cannot use any of his bedrooms because he feels so ill therein. Attached find a small amount of evidence for effects. (If this is cruelty to animals, what is it to expose human beings to the effects without allowing them to appeals against erection of masts on health grounds? Very sincerely Gillian Lyden Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2005 8:21 PM Subject: [Mast Network] Another possible victim of base stations

Upon the death of our five year old cat, I am now more than ever convinced that the pulsed microwave radiation emitted by my neighbours mobile phone base station is attributable to adverse health effects. In factual demonstration of my belief, I can advise you that our vet has been unable to offer neither any prognosis for Emily’s condition nor any explanation why Emily’ haematology report dated 04/08/05 shows a low <12% White Blood Cell Count.

Whilst at the vets today. I spoke with a vet I have not seen before and I was surprised to learn that she fully accepts the potential for the resulting ill health in animals and referenced an animals stronger sense to all environmental factors, such as in the Tsunami when the animals went to higher ground. She also advised that her friend, a serving policeman has developed a tumour in his chest directly beneath where he attaches his Tetra handset.

I am eager to pursue communication with this vet as all other avenues with the RSPCA, RSPB, English Nature, etc suggests that these organisations pay lip service only to this matter.

Stephen



Open letter to Edmund Stoiber, Prime Minister, Germany

Dr Edmund Stoiber State Chancelry PO Box 220011
80535 Munich

Urgent suspicions of serious health damage from pulsed high frequency electromagnetic fields (mobile phone base stations, DECT phones, W-LAN, Bluetooth etc.) at levels below exposure guidelines.

Dear Prime Minister,

Allow me to represent many doctors personally to you.

For eight months doctors in Oberfranken and another places have been making extremely worrying observations of patients, who live in the vicinity of mobile phone base stations. After initial suspicions at locations in Forchheim, Hirschaid, Walsdorf, Memmelsdorf and Bamberg survey measurements were made of 356 such residents in 40 locations, all in Oberfranken. Meanwhile 64 Hofer doctors, 30 Lichtenfelser, 61 Coburger, 20 from Bayreuth and countrywide, added their names to the Bamberger appeal.

The result all these medical findings is as follows.

Many people have become ill with a characteristic combination of symptoms, which is new to us as doctors, at exposure levels far below the guideline limits, which apply only to thermal effects. Residents in the vicinity of masts have one or more of the following symptoms:

Sleep disturbance, tiredness, headache, restlessness, lethargy, irritability, inability to concentrate, forgetfulness, trouble finding words, depressive tendency, noises in the ears, impaired hearing, dizziness, nosebleeds, visual disturbances, frequent infections, sinusitis, joint and muscle pains, feeling deaf, palpitations, increased blood pressure, hormone disturbances, gaining weight, hair loss, nocturnal sweating, nausea.

The following statements strengthened our suspicions:

* Frequently, many residents become sick with these symptoms at the same time, when living near a base station
(e.g. Schweinfurt: Eselshöhe, in Kulmbach: Senioren-Wohnanlage Mainpark, in Hof: Kösseinestraße, in Forchheim: Ortsteil Burk).
* Many patients have reported rapid recovery when removed from exposure (by temporary relocation, removal of the source, screening, disconnection).
* After relocation, doctors have proven during re-examination of the patients, among other things, that blood pressure, heart rhythm, hormone disturbances, visual disturbances, neurological symptoms, and blood profile have returned to normal.
* Many doctors’ families have in the course of the last months removed their DECT phones and were thereafter free among other things from headache, concentration disturbances, dizziness, restlessness, tinnitus, and sleep disturbance.

We therefore requested the responsible authorities (Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Conservation and Nuclear Safety, members of the Radiation Protection Commission and the WHO) to organise local health surveys. Despite the serious, medical concern, all the authorities have refused to investigate the (to some degree) intolerable living conditions of those living locally.

Not one official health survey has...

EMR Reduces Melatonin in Animals and People
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/619547/

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This is a copy of a letter I have received today.

09/08/05

Dear Mr Kearney

May I sincerely apologise for the elate reply to your letter dated 25/01/05, I thought I had replied in early February. Thank you for your letter dated 25/01/05 sent to the SSPCA Chief Executive, Mrs Kay Driver regarding environmental pollution. I found the content very interesting indeed and I have also looked at a few other websites that to one degree of another verify what you write.

Like our English counterparts the RSPCA, this is a subject that we as a Society have had few dealings with or indeed concerns raised.

The Society would obviously be concerned given some of the detail that you have included, e.g. infertility, stillbirths, emaciation etc, all of which indicate biological changes to the animals concerned. It is correct that one of the primary functions of planning control for such masts is out ensure public health and safety, animal wealth and welfare are always ranked lower in this regard, however, such animal welfare research could be taken into account to gauge the risk to public and therefore should be used or atleast considered.

I assume that with all such contentious issues there will be contradictory advice available, however, we will use your letter and the details on the 'hese' site when relevant questions are asked of the Society, either from the public, local authorities or indeed the Scottish Executive.

The Scottish SPCA is an active member of PAW (Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime) which in Scotland is chaired by the Scottish Executive, we will raise this issue at the next meeting in September to see if there are any other opinions available.

I will also pass the letter to Scottish Natural Heritage who are the advisory body on environmental issues tot he Scottish Executive.

Yours sincerely

Michael Flynn
Superintendent

When “Our Mast” in London Road in Worcestershire got the planning permission (Conservation area, listed buildings) it was based on this: As Louise Cook, AAP Consult wrote to Peter Yates, Head of Planning in Worcester :

Quote: “Any minor environmental impact that may be perceived is outweighed by the NEED for the development as part of Hutchison 3G´s network in the city”

This “MINOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT” forced us to abandon our home and find somewhere else to live and work because of the effects the emission from the equipment induced on us.

But I wonder!

We managed to sell the house on the 27th of August LAST YEAR.

Who to?

Hutchison 3G?

I wonder, because the house is still empty. No-one has lived there since we were forced out.

The house is a large, grade 2 listed, 200 year old, Georgian “Gentleman’s” house.

(These kind of houses cannot afford to stand empty, unkempt, they need care. Sorry I still love this house and I bleed for its and ours rape and misfortune)

We (and Dr. Hyland who took some measurements in there) were told the house was empty because the new owners wanted to make extensive changes to the lay out of the house.

With a listed house this needs extensive planning permission.

There has been no application for a planning permission, except for a new garden gate, which was granted (but which has not been done).

But what there has been done is: A listed Holly tree has been felled. The Holly tree (like the house itself) blinded the path of the mast beams to the area across from the mast.

Hutchison 3G people are devious, nasty people (I met them and their solicitors in court, and have been stuck with them since 2003) they are prepared to lie (and do) to get what they want.

They have no regard for our lives or well being, only their profit target. (Targets, ring a bell?)

So, they have paid a lot of money for a license and they do not care the least who it poisons.

They are in it for the quick profit, for a Chinese company.

So, who is surprised?

Their trail is coated with gold, and they are willing to spread that to anyone who will do as they ask.

Best regards.

Agnes .

http://www.mast-victims.org

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Agnes - I expect you are aware of Hutchison's background? I asked Corporate Watch to look into them for me when I had to fight them in Bath. This is the horrid truth about them - it is the second item down the page at this link

http://www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=95

Sian

Wells Journal Somerset

18:00 - 04 August 2005

Outraged Wells residents have vowed to fight plans to put a mobile telephone mast at the top of Bath Road. It was standing room only in St Thomas's Church Hall on Friday evening when about 150 people turned out to have their say and ask a Mendip District Council planning officer questions about the proposal.

Mobile telecommunications company Hutchinson 3G want to put a 12-metre high mast on a small piece of grass next to the former garage site, but nearby residents are up in arms about the proposal, saying that it is too close to houses and schools.

Hutchinson 3G declined an invitation to send a representative to the meeting, but did agree to answer any questions posed in writing and said that they would be happy to consider other sites as long as the coverage would not be affected.

At the meeting Mendip planning officer Matt Williams explained that because the mast is less than 15-metres high it does not need planning permission, but that the applicants must still submit an application and planning officers do have the authority to recommend that the application be refused.

However, he went on to tell the crowd that any reasons for refusal must be based on "sound planning grounds", and that these are fairly limited. When considering an application, an officer considers the operational need, visual amenity, health effects and the impact on neighbours' living conditions and highway safety before making his decision.

Mr Williams said that in the case of mobile telephone masts applicants must look into mast sharing, or putting the mast next to another one wherever possible and that if it is decided that there will be some level of visual impact then the council will balance the need against the harmful effect.

He also explained to what extent health issues could be considered.

He said: "If it is stated in an application that the mast would comply with international guidelines then local planning authorities should not consider the health effects further, and this is stated in this application.

"But, although an application cannot be refused on the basis that we do not know what the health risks are, it can be refused on the perceived health effects and the impact that the anxiety has on people's living conditions." The residents were then given the opportunity to ask questions, which ranged from the possibility of sharing existing sites with other telecommunication providers, to the possible effects on television reception.

Ward councillor Simon Davies said: "I strongly advise people who have concerns to write to the planning officer.

"You cannot think that someone else will do it." Ward councillor Roy Mackenzie said: "I told Mendip District Council that there would be concerns and questioned the need and said that if I took part in the decision-making process I would listen to all sides." Eveyone seemed to agree that they would fight the proposal, with one angry resident saying: "We will not let this rest.

"If it goes through then we will make life very difficult for them." Some of the residents have decided to form a group, Wells Householders Against Masts (WHAM) to fight the application.

All letters must be received by Mendip District Council by August 10, and planning officers will make their decision by August 24.

County Councillor John Osman, who chaired the meeting, said: "I am concerned about the proposed location of this application.

"Surely there are better alternative sites that are further away from residential areas and the local school."

wells@midsomnews.co.uk

Do the police use TETRA while driving? Is hands free the answer? I observed a policewoman in a car using a TETRA handset, no external antenna (!). The MTHR (DfT) study, somewhat buried (pp. 87-99) concludes:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_rdsafety/documents/page/dft_rdsafety_033662.pdf (total 206 pages of other road safety things)

‘Driving performance clearly suffers when the driver is performing a simultaneous task. The results of most driving measures showed similar fall off in performance for each of the three driving conditions. However, there was an interesting and important difference in reaction time results that showed the worst performance scores in the hands-free condition. This result was complemented by the subjective workload scores that showed hands-free conversation rated higher than in-vehicle tasks or talking to a passenger. By looking at the conversation itself, we have shown a distinct difference between talking over the carphone and talking to a passenger. There is an important difference between communicating with a passenger who is directly involved in the concurrent drive, and with one that is remote and uninvolved.’

No direct link from the MTHR website to this. In fact the website is really out of date and useless for homing in on any of the direct research results.

Other driving/mobile links at http://www.tetrawatch.net/main/news.php

Andy

The Cornishman Cornwall

09:30 - 04 August 2005

An appeal against the refusal of planning permission for a 15-metre high telecommunications mast at Carbis Bay has been upheld. Hutchinson 3G UK Ltd went to appeal after Penwith Council refused permission for the structure - incorporating three antennae, four dishes and associated equipment - at Carninney Farm in January.

Planning inspector John Woolcock has agreed that the development can go ahead, subject to a number of conditions.

In explaining how he reached his conclusion, Mr Woolcock said he considered the main issue to be the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area.

"I have also considered the effects of the proposal on the health and amenity of local residents, and whether there are any available alternative sites which could provide similar coverage and have less environmental impact," he commented.

Mr Woolcock conceded that the scheme would have an adverse effect on the character of the area.

But he concluded: "I am satisfied that the proposal would, as far as technically feasible, utilise a location which minimises its impact on the character and amenity of the wider landscape, residential amenity and the setting of the settlement."

He added that there did not appear to be any available alternative sites that would provide similar coverage and have less environmental impact.

"In my judgement, the need for the mast in this case is sufficient to outweigh the conflict with the development plan and the limited harm to the character and appearance of the area."

--------

So, in this Inspector's judgement "the need for the mast in this case is sufficient to outweigh the conflict with the development plan and the limited harm to the character and appearance of the area". A couple of points:

- There is no statutory requirement for the mast; 'the need' is merely a commercial need and a means of "3" making money. The balance between HMG's policy of encouraging mobile phone use and the rights of local communities to have a say in what goes on in their neighbourhood has clearly gone badly astray. Oh that we had the wherewithal to challenge this in court!

- "..and the limited harm to the character and appearance of the area". This is a purely subjective judgement made by a stranger to the area. It is merely one opinion of one (hardly qualified) individual which, again, should be open to challenge.

David B

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..........But, David, on the positive side, he did say that he CONSIDERED HEALTH and AMENITY, so neither are quite extinct yet! We just have to keep blowing on the flames till we resurrect the phoenix from the fire!

Sandi

--------

He had to, Sandi. Not to have done so would have been unlawful and invited a High Court challenge.

David

Upon the death of our five year old cat, I am now more than ever convinced that the pulsed microwave radiation emitted by my neighbours mobile phone base station is attributable to adverse health effects. In factual demonstration of my belief, I can advise you that our vet has been unable to offer neither any prognosis for Emily’s condition nor any explanation why Emily’ haematology report dated 04/08/05 shows a low <12% White Blood Cell Count.

Whilst at the vets today. I spoke with a vet I have not seen before and I was surprised to learn that she fully accepts the potential for the resulting ill health in animals and referenced an animals stronger sense to all environmental factors, such as in the Tsunami when the animals went to higher ground. She also advised that her friend, a serving policeman has developed a tumour in his chest directly beneath where he attaches his Tetra handset.

I am eager to pursue communication with this vet as all other avenues with the RSPCA, RSPB, English Nature, etc suggests that these organisations pay lip service only to this matter.

Stephen

PS I am conscious that Jackie Ballard, Director General of the RSPCA, per her letter to me dated 11/03/05 (beneath) may be allowing the ODPM to ignore her previous requests and I would be grateful if mast sanity subscribers could urge her to chase this matter up, email; executive@rspca.org.uk

11 March 2005

Dear Mr Kearney,

Telecommunications Masts

Thank you for your email of 4 March enquiring whether I had received a reply from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

As I had not heard from John Prescott's office regarding my letter of 14 July I wrote to him again on the 17 January asking for his comments. I received a reply on 1 February to say that his office could not trace having received the original correspondence and I supplied him with a further copy. We are still waiting for a reply but please rest assured that I will let you have a copy of the response when I have received it.

Jackie Ballard

--------

Stephen

We have had similar problems with one of our dogs, high white and low red cell count, gums and eyes looked jaundiced, after a week in hospital on a drip, steroids and antibiotics the blood work stabalised, the dog has been on a stepped doesage of steriods for almost three months.

I had no problem convincing the vet as to the cause.

Phil Watts

--------

I have been talking to a lady who has a farm where, once a mobile phone mast went up on neighbouring land, the sheep all became very thin, despite eating well. An autopsy on one showed a low white blood cell count, but no other signs of illness. A mare also developed stiffness in the legs and could not rise from sleep, so has slept upright since. The mast was removed and the animals recovered, but the mare still won't lay down. I am seeking more details. Interestingly, this lady was also unwell and her doctor noted the improvement in her, once the mast went down, and agreed that the mast seemed to cause the ill-health with her and her animals. He even wrote a letter to this effect, I believe, but I have not seen it yet. I hope to be able to go and see her at some stage, so will keep you posted.

Sandi

P.S. I intend to write to various societies when I can find time, too, because wildlife and vegitation are also affected.

Leicester Mercury
BY MEL ATKINSON

10:30 - 04 August 2005

Plans to put six more mobile phone masts on a tower block have been rejected after a councillor described the building as like "an anchored satellite".

Elizabeth House already has 16 masts on its roof and residents say that is too many.

The city's planning committee has now rejected a new application by phone company O2, fearing the antennae may pose a risk.

Residents welcomed the news today - but appealed for the block's existing masts to be removed.

Over the past 10 years, 14 antennae, two dish antennae and four equipment cabinets have been installed on the roof of the tower block, in Waterloo Way, near Leicester train station. One resident, Phil Hendy, claims he is suffering ill health from the existing mobile phone aerials.

Mr Hendy, 61, has lived on the top floor of Elizabeth House since 1979, but says his health deteriorated after masts were installed in 1999.

He said: "I suffer from dizziness, headaches, loss of balance, loss of power in my limbs and arthritis.

"The symptoms ease when I leave the building. I live right under the main equipment cabinet and there are also electrical cables on the roof.

"Residents are pleased with the decision but really they should be trying to remove what's already there."

Councillor Patrick Kitterick, who represents the city centre, said: "There is nowhere else in Leicester where you have this concentration of antennae in one location and it is growing and growing.

"You would not put these antenna near a row of terraces - it's only flat-dwellers who seem to have to put up with this."

Planning committee member Coun John Thomas said: "This is not so much a block of flats as an anchored telecommunications satellite.

"The people living at the top of the flats must be right in the firing line. We have reached saturation point."

Planning officers - who had advised councillors to approve O2's application - said that radiation readings taken last week by phone regulator Ofcom showed that levels of exposure in and around Elizabeth House were "well within the maximum levels allowed".

The highest dose, at the junction of Campbell Street and Fox Street, is one-thousandth of the national safety figure.

They said councillors could choose to refuse permission if they believed it had not been proved that there was no health risk from an increased number of aerials.

Councillors voted unanimously to refuse the application, on the grounds of the number of existing antennae and possible health risks.

O2 spokeswoman Angela Johnson said: "It is too early to say whether we will appeal but we are very disappointed that we haven't got this site.

"The cumulative effect of the radiation is thousands of times lower than international safety guidelines and is less than a mobile itself."

Omega see under: http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=ICNIRP+Guidelines


melatkinson@leicestermercury.co.uk

Aug 4 2005

Widness Weekly News

ONE of the latest plans to construct a giant mobile phone mast in Widnes has been nipped in the bud by Halton Borough Council.

In recent months the council has been backing hundreds of residents across the town who have co-ordinated protest campaigns in a bid to block the 'eyesore' transmitters.

The latest O2 application to be rejected was for a 15 metre monopole mast with three antennae which was to be built at the junction of the Liverpool Road and Lower-house Lane, Widnes.

Residents are up in arms at O2's determination to get new masts in the area to support the 'Third Generation' telephone network they claim need bigger and more powerful installations.

But the council has acted swiftly to thrown out the latest proposals.

The first was submitted in December 2004, for a 15 metre mobile phone mast - the planning application rejected in January this year.

O2 then appealed against the refusal decision and in the meantime the company submitted a further revised application for a 12.5m mast.

Both have now been rejected.

A council spokeswoman said: 'Halton Borough Council has once again received the support of the Planning Inspectorate in rejecting a mast proposal.

'The council has had full backing from the planning inspectorate to refuse planning permission for a mast to be constructed at the junction of Liverpool Road and Lowerhouse Lane in Widnes.'

Deni Newman, of Halton Friends of the Earth, said: 'The controversy over the risk from mobile phones is heightened by the industry's insistence on subjecting us all to pulsed wave emissions 24-hours-a-day.

'The pulsed waves act in a similar way to invisible strobe lighting and the resulting interference on human brain wave patterns may result in symptoms such as altered sleep and behaviour, audio and visual disturbance and loss of concentration.'

Aug 4 2005

By Sarah Gaffney, Ormskirk Advertiser

A CONTROVERSIAL plan to build an O2 phone mast in Burscough, has been refused planning permission by district councillors.

Despite a favourable recommendation, they decided not to approve the 17.5 metre tower at a planning committee meeting.

Arguments made against the mast in Platts Lane were that it would be an eyesore, would ruin a conservation area and, above all, would have health implications for nearby families.

However, as the government has not set any clear guidelines about mobile masts and possible health risks, the application could not be refused on health grounds.

Jason Isherwood, from The Poplars, made a speech appealing for the mast to be rejected because he said it would be too close to a school.

"I ask you to search your hearts and minds. It's about people and I choose people over a mast. As our representatives I hope you do the same."

John Hodgson, of Platts Lane, speaking on behalf of his neighbours, said the mast would spoil the visual amenity.

He said that when the leaves fell off the trees or if the trees were thinned out, the mast would be exposed.

Most of the committee agreed. Cllr Terry Rice said: "The thing is 60-feet high, if you think you won't notice it you are living in Cloud Cuckoo Land.

"The government rule is we should not take into account any health worries.

"But if this thing is hazardous to health, it is more hazardous to children than adults and there are children in the vicinity."

Burscough Parish Council chairman, Cllr Cynthia Dereli, was pleased that planning permission was rejected. Because she lives just inside the mast consultation area, Cllr Dereli was forced to declare her interest, although her exclusion was considered "laughable" by Cllr Alan Bullen.

She said: "I am really pleased that the position that residents took was listened to. They were really good and understood their subject well."