Shropshire Star 04.08.05

Mobile phone companies could be stopped from erecting masts in residential areas of Telford after the borough council revealed that it is reviewing its policy on the issue.

The move was announced at last night's Borough of Telford and Wrekin Council plans board meeting by chairman Councillor Hilda Rhodes.

She said the review was being made following concern from council members and the public about the increasing number of masts being erected in largely populated areas.

The Western Gazette Somerset

15:00 - 28 July 2005

Residents fighting a company's plans to make additions to a telecommunications mast near their homes say they are encouraged by a decision to delay the application. West Dorset District Council planning official Andrew Jordan had supported the proposal by NTL Broadcast to add two vertical polls to the present 17.8-metre high mast in Stonebarrow Lane, Charmouth.

The application to the district council, on behalf of O2 Airwave, is for the installation of Tetra, a nationwide communications system for the emergency services.

However, members of the council's development control west committee meeting decided last Thursday to defer the decision because of a lack of technical information regarding the possible effect on TV reception if the permanent Tetra station gets the go-ahead.

Councillor Ian Gardner's proposal that the committee makes a site visit before any decision was made was also supported by the councillors.

Residents were furious at plans to make the additions to the mast, which they have been fighting to have moved.

They formed an action group STAMP - Stonebarrow Against Mast Proximity - to battle for the mast to be shifted away from their homes.

They claim it is a blot on the landscape in an area of outstanding natural beauty on the World Heritage Coast.

The residents confronted the planners at the packed meeting and suggested an alternative site for the entire mast further up the lane, which they claim is technically and visually superior to the present one.

STAMP member Barbara Collins said: "This application has completely failed to look at the alternative site, it is in an incredibly sensitive location, near an area of outstanding natural beauty and on the World Heritage Coast."

Stonebarrow residents' association chairman Phillip Morgan-Smith said: "We also suffer a lot from the noise of the cooling fans located alongside the mast. At a different location these would not be so near the houses."

One resident read a letter from her seven-year-old son. He said: "Dear Mr Jordan I love the countryside and the area where I live, but this mast is very ugly.

"My mum and dad said there is a better place it can be moved to and I hope you will move it there."

But Mr Jordan told councillors Government guidelines meant that mast sharing should be utilised in order to limit the proliferation of additional masts within the countryside, unless other material reasons outweigh such a consideration.

"Such consideration is limited to the visual assessment of the development. As stated, the visual impact is considered to be acceptable and there is no material justification for the mast sharing policy to be overridden."

Mr Jordan also reminded councillors they were not there to look into alternatives, but decide on that application on its merits.

Speaking afterwards, resident Ali Cameron said: "It is a step in the right direction I am pleased the councillors could see our problem and were keen to address the issues and not just sweep it through."

Falkirk

Today 04 08.05 Angry residents unite to take on mobile phone giant

UNHAPPY residents want to block a proposed mobile phone mast on their doorstep. People living in Lithgow Place, Denny, were horrified to receive a letter from Vodaphone's agents at the weekend alerting them to the plans. Now they have launched a petition telling the mobile phone company they don't want it erected near their homes – or next to Nethermains Primary School.

Jane McGuigan, of 8 Lithgow Place, said she was concerned the consultation was taking place during the school holidays. She said: "I'm sure if they were aware of the proposal, lots of parents with children at the primary school would want to object. ''I've two children of my own and don't want them living next to a phone mast."

Electrician John Connolly (38), whose home at 19 Lithgow Place is right next to the land earmarked for the mast, is concerned over the safety risks, particularly for his seven-year-old son. He said: "The advice from the Government is there are no health concerns from masts, but then you read other reports which conflict with their advice. Vodaphone should not be planning this in a residential area or close to a school. "We've also got to consider this as likely to devalue our homes if allowed to go ahead. In fact, it could make them almost impossible to sell."

Marion Welsh at No.15 said neighbours were agreed they wouldn't have bought their homes if the mast had already been built. She said: "Everyone is really worried, particularly from the safety aspect. ''When the houses were built three and four years ago, they were bought as family homes. ''There are a lot of children living here and although some could claim it has never been proven that masts are a risk, it's not been proven otherwise."

In the letter to residents, Vodaphone gave details of five other nearby sites which had been considered then discounted. They were two on land at East Banknock Farm, Myothill Road, land off Myothill Road, and locations along Nethermains Road. Vodaphone has yet to submit a planning application to Falkirk Council to build the mast and is currently carrying out pre-application consult-ations with neighbouring properties. This is standard procedure and part of a 10-point best practice policy adopted by mobile phone operators. Falkirk Council follows Scottish Executive guidelines when determining any telecom mast application.

A spokeswoman for Vodaphone confirmed all comments would be reviewed before a final decision was taken. She said: "One of our difficulties is finding sites in the first place. ''We are working in very, very small geographic areas because of the low power involved. "We have to find a balance between taking on board everyone's views but, at the same time, responding to customers' demands for service. ''We will look very carefully at what is being said."

LEWIS HANNAM
Norwich Evening News 24
04 August 2005 12:38

Proposals to build a 20m mast in Horsford have been thrown out by the Government's independent Planning Inspectorate.

The decision to reject the appeal by telecommunications giant Hutchison 3G UK is the final nail in the coffin for the planned mast in Pyehurn Lane.

Josie Sutton, who has lived in nearby St Helena Way since 1977, said: "This community fought hard against this siting of this mast. We live in a lovely environment and a mast would have ruined it."

She praised the landowner for withdrawing permission for the mast to be built on the land and urged mobile phone companies to talk more with communities in their search for potential sites.

The plans were rejected by Broadland District Council in January because families were worried by the visual impact.

But Hutchison 3G UK appealed, although the landowner no longer wanted the mast.

Mike Davies, a spokesman for Hutchison 3G UK, said: "We still sought permission for the plans because if we had won the appeal, it would have left the option of negotiating with the landowner available. But this decision means that can't happen and we still require more coverage; we will be examining our options in the area.

"With our licence we have to achieve certain coverage levels as far as the Norwich area is concerned."

The inspectorate rejected the appeal on the basis of its negative visual impact and the availability of alternative sites.

Mother-of-two Sally Burton, 38, of Holt Road, said: "It is a great relief. It gives hope to other people fighting these sorts of plans. Our campaign has really helped bring the community together."

John Starling, chairman of Horsford Parish Council, said: "It goes to show that if people get behind a campaign against a mast, then they can win."

The Evening News is campaigning for no more phone masts to be sited near homes or schools until further information about possible health risks is available.

Are you fighting plans to site a phone mast in your neighbourhood? Call Alasdair McGregor on (01603) 772443 or e-mail al.mcgregor@archant.co.uk

The Argus, West Sussex

Protesters campaigning against a mobile phone mast have forced a company to look for another site.

Seventy people opposed to 02's plans to construct a 15m mast outside the Norwich Union building, Worthing, stormed the company's drop-in session, designed to explain the plans to the public.

It withdrew its application to erect the mast just north of the Broadwater roundabout from Worthing Borough Council two weeks ago for further public consultation but has now gone back to the drawing board.

The protest at Broadwater Parish Rooms on Tuesday evening was organised by the Charmandean, Offington and Broadwater Residents' Association, which was set up in response to the plans.

Residents are worried about the mast being built within close proximity of homes, fears over health and environmental issues and the impact on property prices.

02 community relations manager James Stevenson said: "Given the level of protest we have to take it seriously and we are going to look in the area again for an alternative site which we can take to the local planners."

He explained a base station was necessary to provide 02 customers with third generation (3G) services and it was impossible to erect it alongside the Orange mast further in Worthing because there was not enough room.

Campaigner Erwin Sargent, 51, said: "We put a lot of effort into organising the protest and it went very well, showing up the plan's inadequacies and the level of concern in the community."

Aug 3 2005

By Paul Newham, Crewe Chronicle

ANGRY residents have set up their own protest group to fight plans for a 50ft phone mast in the middle of a housing estate in Crewe.

Orange PCS Ltd has applied for planning permission to put up the mast on land owned by Brookhouse Garage in Lewis Street.

But, with some homes just 40 metres away from the proposed site, residents have sent a clear message that they will not tolerate the eyesore.

Brian Roberts, 55, and his wife Sandra have launched the Lewis Street Action Group to protest against the plans.

Mr Roberts, a father-of-six who works as a construction manager, said: 'If you look at the application it is for a 50ft mast with three antennas and one microwave dish.

'We have to read between the lines and realise that, in an elevated spot like that, more and more equipment is bound to go on to that mast over time.

'You see these kinds of masts in farmers' fields and they seem to grow every time you drive past them.'

Mrs Roberts added residents are unhappy about the notification they received from the borough council.

She said: 'We live just 40 metres away from the mast but neighbours of ours just two or three doors down have received no letter.

'It is quite staggering considering we are talking about a six-storey high mast in the middle of tightly packed rows of terraced housing, that every resident has not received a letter.

'The swimming baths are approximately 200 metres from this mast. Do the children have to swim under an umbrella of microwaves?'

Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council's planning guidelines indicate all properties within 100 metres of such a development should be notified in writing.

Planning officer Alan Millington said: 'More than 85 letters were sent out to residents which covered all addresses within 100 metres.

'I have explained to residents that we are under pressure to process applications which is why we have formal consultation periods.

'But I have said I will receive letters right up to the date of the planning committee meeting.'

Formal consultation on the mast application ends on Friday, August 12, with the next meeting of the development control committee scheduled for Monday, August 22.

By Linda Piper

London News Shopper Bexley

A LONG-running battle over a phone mast on a primary school has finally been resolved.

Phone company Orange has been told it must decommission the mast next to classrooms at Bedonwell Infant and Junior Schools in Belvedere, within eight weeks of its new 3G mast becoming operational.

Bexley Council's planning control committee imposed the condition after handing the company permission for a new mast on the top of the telephone exchange in Erith Road, Belvedere, granted last week.

The company signed a lease with the school in 1995 to rent a piece of land for the mast, before the continuing controversy about the effects of phone masts first surfaced.

In return the school received £9,000 a year from Orange.

Once parents realised the uncertainty over health risks from phone masts, they launched a campaign to get the mast removed.

Several parents, including Debbie Collins from Belvedere, removed their children from the school, rather than expose them to possible health risks.

Parents and children also staged a protest march through Bexleyheath Broadway to the council offices.

They pressured Bexley Council and the company and in 2001 thought they had won when Orange said it was prepared to move the mast if it could find an alternative site.

The then council leader Councillor Mike Slaughter offered Bexley's help in identifying another site but all the efforts came to nothing.

The council and the company always maintained the strength of emissions from the mast was tiny and would not affect the children.

In recent years the school has refused the company access to the mast which would have enabled engineers to upgrade it preventing Orange from re-using the mast for its 3G services.

Because of the outcry from parents, the school had already told the company it was not prepared to renew the lease on the school site.

Now the company says its new mast on the roof of the exchange will provide its 3G coverage plus 40 per cent of the 2G coverage now coming from the Bedonwell mast.

Mrs Collins' daughter Rhiannon was just six when her mother took her away to teach her at home.

She would have been due to leave the school this summer.

Reacting to the news Mrs Collins said: "Fantastic. I cannot believe it.

"At last children will not have to sit next to emissions from the mast any longer."

She added "At the time we said Orange should have used one of the suggested alternative sites.

"These alternatives included the Erith exchange where it could have shared a mast.

"It obviously did not suit the company's purpose to do so.

"It is a shame Orange did not put the health of children first but it is good councillors finally took the chance to do something."

Reddich Hopper 03.08.05

A MATCHBOROUGH man is rallying support to fight one of an "epidemic" of mobile phone masts across Redditch.

Phil Henshaw, of Frankton Close, said he was lobbying as many neighbours as possible to oppose the proposed mast in Bart Leet Road.

"It's position would be a mere stone's throw away from Matchborough First School - I couldn't think of a worse location," he said.

"I'm sick of so-called experts telling us they're safe - nothing seems to have been proven yet about the health effects."

He added: "But they seem to be springing up everywhere - it's like an epidemic - nothing's being done to stop it."

The latest phase of mobile phone masts - so-called "third generation" masts - are being installed to accommodate improved technology, with the latest phones boasting videos and cameras.

Redditch Council's head of planning, John Staniland, said demand for mobile phones was also on the increase.

He said he sympathised with concerned residents, but added: "This is a national issue - Redditch residents aren't alone in their concerns.

"But phone masts are given the go-ahead if they comply with national standards - and if they do local government is powerless to intervene."

By Jolene Hill
Bromley Newshopper

CAMPAIGNERS are launching legal action against the council over its stance on mobile phone masts.

Orpington Residents Against Masts (ORAM) is asking for a judicial review over masts on the BT building in Chislehurst Road, Orpington, which it claims was illegally put up.

It is also demanding local authorities take control of moderating low-level radiation at the moment it is up to the phone company.

ORAM has about 70 members who fear masts may have an effect on their health.

No evidence has linked mobile phone masts to ill-health but the Stewart Committee, which published a report into mast radiation in 2000, stated not enough research had been carried out to be sure.

Omega evidence is linked concerning mobile phone masts to ill-health. See further under: http://www.buergerwelle.de/body_science.html


Residents in Bromley are convinced the masts are affecting them and have carried out radiation tests in their homes.

They used an acousti-COM detector, which makes a loud noise when detecting high levels of microwave radiation and the COM monitor, which measures the signal strength from masts, with red and orange lights showing high-exposure areas.

Angela Shields, 37, of Footbury Hill Road, Orpington, lives near the BT exchange building.

Her family suffered headaches and insomnia until radiation tests showed high levels at the front of her house and she moved the furniture to the back.

Susan Green, of New Road, Orpington, says her 10-year-old son was missing school with insomnia and headaches.

Radiation tests showed the level was highest above his bed.

She moved his bed and placed metal sheets in her attic at a cost of around £500 and her son has been fine since.

Mrs Green said: "We are not anti-mast. We just want there to be some control over where they are sited.

"People also need to be aware of the health risks and how they can reduce the immediate effects."

A council spokesman said: "We have had discussions with residents. It's difficult to comment because of the potential legal issues surrounding this case.

"We will carefully examine any legal challenge which may be made and respond accordingly."

This is Local London

A COMMUNITY is calling for support from residents to block construction of a mobile phone mast which the council has already rejected.

Bromley Council refused planning permission in May, because the proposed 14m telephone mast on Crofton Lane, Petts Wood, did not fit in with its surroundings.

Parents and residents objected on health grounds to the mast, which would be near Crofton Infant and Crofon Junior schools.

Telephone operator Hutchinson 3G has appealed to the Planning Inspectorate, which will make a final decision on August 14.

Tina Christiansen, 39, of Crescent Drive, Petts Wood, said: "We have had tremendous backing from the community but we need ever more support."

Anyone wishing to object should email the inspector, Sue Nash, before August 12.

Email sue.nash@pins.gsi.gov.uk, quoting reference Land outside 153 Crofton Lane, Orpington, Kent, Ref.APP/G5180/A/05/1182979.