Jul 6 2005

by Paul Dale, Chief Reporter Birmingham Post

A temporary ban on siting mobile phone masts on land and property owned by Birmingham City Council is to be lifted.

Council members decided unanimously to scrap "without delay" a moratorium in return for imposing strict controls on the masts' operators.

It follows a scrutiny committee inquiry which concluded that, if the ban remained in place, the council would be powerless to prevent phone companies placing masts on roadsides and privately-owned sites.

Mick Wilkes, who chaired the committee, proposed "stringent" controls including independent audits of emissions to ensure radiation safety levels were not exceeded and regular safety checks.

Coun Wilkes (Lib Dem Hall Green) accepted there were great public fears about possible long term health risks but there was no independent medical evidence to back the concerns.

The decision, at last night's full council, came as it emerged companies were waiting to take advantage of Birmingham 's changed policy.

Coun Len Gregory (Con Billesley), cabinet member for transportation, said: "We have been approached in the past few days by operators who say that they want to use our real estate, our lamp columns, for mobile phone masts.

"We cannot stick our heads in the sand. If we continue with the moratorium the mobile phone operators can put masts up alongside the highway without reference to us." A number of councillors voiced concerns about health risks.

Coun Deirdre Alden (Con Edgbaston) warned: "If people who smoke for 40 years are prepared to sue tobacco companies when they get cancer, you can be sure there is someone who will sue the council when they are made ill by a mast next to their house."

Gloucester Citizen

06 July 2005

Mps yesterday rounded on the Government, accusing ministers of inaction over mobile phone masts, as an increasing number of communities rebelled against applications. About 15 MPs turned up at a debate in Westminster Hall to highlight the mounting frustration in their constituencies over masts, which they fear are a health hazard.

The debate was led by Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, the Tory MP for the Cotswolds, who called for a shake-up of the planning regime to impose more controls on phone operators.

"It is deeply ironic that mobile phones, created to allow a connection and conversations between those separated by distance, have only proven just how distant this Government is, and incapable of listening even to the most persistent interlocutors," he said.

"Each time the Government has gone through the motions of listening to the public's concerns, it quickly becomes apparent that really no action has been taken at all."

Mr Clifton-Brown said, after the Stewart report in 2000 that recommended a "precautionary approach" to mobile phone technology, ministers promised to hold consultation exercises.

"However, it seems clear to me that this obese Government hasn't taken enough exercise and must now be shown how to get mobile phone masts planning regulations back into shape."

Cumbernaud Today

PEOPLE Power has triumphed in Cumber-nauld following a special meeting last week - after North Lanarkshire Council planners got more than they bargained for when objections flooded in to the construction of a phone mast at the Condorrat Ring Road.

The 15ft mast which had been proposed by mobile phone giants T Mobile was to be situated to the west of Avonhead Gardens - in a move which did not pass muster with residents who already have two similar masts in their midst.

One mast already exists at the Ring Road - and another in Lomond Court is set to be 'enhanced' with more powerful antennae under special planning guidelines which cannot be opposed by the public.

The issue was first aired at a planning meeting in April - where it swiftly became apparent that the community felt ill at ease with the as-yet inconclusive evidence that the masts represent a radioactive risk with their emissions. The fact that three schools - Baird Memorial, St Helen's and Condorrat Primaries - lay within a very close proximity to the mast was a cause of alarm to parents - many of whom signed a petition which attracted 670 signatures.

Objections were also received from Cumbernauld and Kilsyth MSP Cathie Craigie, Condorrat Community Council plus local councillor Gerry McElroy who insisted planners make a site visit to Condorrat and hold an individual hearing on the matter.

That took place on Friday when the objectors told planners in no uncertain terms why they could not support another mast in their community.

And the result has been the cause of much jubilation in Condorrat.
Councillor McElroy said: "We had our day in court - and we are absolutely delighted at the outcome. We felt that this was just a pole too far and I am glad that the planning and environment committee listened to our concerns."

Bobby Johnston of the community council added: "With the other masts, this was turning into a cluster. With these three schools nearby, it is not a risk we were willing to take."

By CLARE GRANT

06 July 2005

Jul 6 2005

by Fiona Scott Evening Telegraph Coventry

A city councillor is complaining about laws which he says allow phone companies a lot of freedom in putting up mobile phone masts.

Cllr Gary Ridley (Con, Sherbourne) highlighted the national issue while backing electors who are protesting against a second mobile phone mast near their homes.

T-Mobile recently won approval to put a 36ft mast, disguised as a street light, at the junction of Holyhead Road and Grayswood Avenue, Chapelfields.

It was previously turned down for a higher mast in the same place because it would look "conspicuous and incongruous".

Cllr Ridley criticised national rules which mean councils cannot turn down masts less than 58.5ft high except on a few criteria.

He said: "In reality, the council could not stop this mast from going ahead but these masts have quietly and slyly taken over our living environment and local people can do nothing to stop them.

"This is the slow death of democracy."

Phone companies have by law "permitted development rights" for phone masts, meaning they do not have to apply for full planning permission. Instead, they give notice of going ahead and councils have a limited time in which to protest.

Cllr Ridley added: "The government ignored independent recommendations to revoke mobile operators' permitted development [rights] which would have meant operators applying for full planning permission - meaning local people continue to be ignored.

"No-one wants to live near these things - they are ugly, intrusive and they may well start to affect the local house prices."

People living nearby fear there's a health risk - even though T-Mobile had to submit documentation showing any radiation from the mast was within approved national guidelines.

Anne Martin, of Bevington Crescent, Coundon, said: "Our main fear is the unknown risks to health. If you start reading up on it all, it's not proven either way.

Omega the risks to health are known. See under:
http://www.buergerwelle.de/body_science.html

"There's already one [a phone mast] on that corner and there are others in that area that we know of."

Ilford Recorder

30 June 2005

DETERMINED residents are preparing to do battle in the High Court to stop a mobile phone mast being put up in a conservation area close to a primary school.

Last month, a planning inspector overturned Redbridge Council's refusal and allowed T-Mobile's appeal, granting planning permission for the 11.7m high mast on land adjacent to the Bowling Club, Aldersbrook Road , Wanstead.

Mother-of-three Elizabeth Canavan, of Merlin Road, Wanstead, rushed to stop work on the site on Monday afternoon and was soon joined by reinforcements.

Sitting on a mound of soil with her 15-month old daughter Eva, Mrs Canavan said she is "completely determined" to protect children at nearby Aldersbrook Primary School, Harpenden Road, Wanstead, from a potential cancer risk.

The protesters have set up Aldersbrook Residents Mast Solution (ARMS) and served papers on the planning inspectorate on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, a group of angry Newbury Park residents staged a protest on Saturday against plans to erect a mast in the heart of their community.

30/06/2005 Woking News and Mail

By PHILIP SKELTON

A GOLDSWORTH Park family claims it is prepared to sell the family home and move if an application to place a fourth mobile phone mast nearby is approved.

Ade and Carol Gray, from Westmead are worried for their daughter, eight, who suffers from epilepsy, following a plan to build a mast at the junction of Wyndham Road and Lockfield Drive that would make a total of four in the area.

Although the application for a fourth mast was refused by Woking’s planning committee on Tuesday June 14, residents living in the area believe it is likely the applicant Vodafone will launch an appeal against the council’s decision.

If successful, this appeal would overturn the council’s refusal and the mast would be built regardless of concerns about health.

Mr and Mrs Gray have managed to control their daughter’s condition with carefully selected medication but they fear that if a fourth mast is placed close to their house it could prompt their daughter to suffer further seizures.

Their fears are founded on independent research, which they claim shows radiation from phone masts can make a sufferer’s epilepsy worse or even trigger the condition in other people.

Mr and Mrs Gray spoke about a case study published last year that focused on a girl from Wales.

Her epilepsy was successfully controlled to the age of six and with the help of medication she was able to limit her seizures to one a month on average.

After a mobile phone mast was put in place these increased to four every day yet stopped when she was taken away from the property and when the mast was switched off.

The Gray family also spoke about other health concerns they claim are increasingly found in people living near to phone masts.

These include learning, concentration and behavioural disorders, fluctuations in blood pressure, cancer, headaches and tinnitus.
Speaking from his home in Westmead, Ade Gray said: “We are the experiment.

“If we stay living here and a fourth mast goes up, our children will be part of the experiment.

“If our child’s epilepsy suddenly worsens after years of being well-controlled or if anything else happens to any of us, we will form part of the statistics concerning the safety or otherwise of these masts.

“So will all the other people living near to these masts.

“We are all involuntary live subjects for this real-life experiment while money and profit are being put first.

“Where are the people who will stand up and strongly question the claim that these masts are safe?

“The government should be objectively protecting the public from potential danger when health suspicions are raised instead of hoping they will go away.”

Goldsworth East councillor Bryan Cross said: “I very much support Mr and Mrs Gray.

“I do not think the Gray family should be put in such a position where they have to move house to ensure their family’s quality of life.

“I respect that they have been very consistent in voicing their concerns wherever mobile phone masts applications have been lodged in residential areas and not just in Lockfield Drive.

“I very much share similar concerns and I am concerned with the inability for any member of the public to ascertain the true position regarding the health effects of mobile phones masts.”

Tamworth Herald

10:30 - 30 June 2005

The Health Protection Agency has been called in to analyse the results of a survey which appears to show that a high number of Coleshill residents and schoolchildren are suffering with health problems.

Warwickshire County Council has asked the independent agency - set up to provide protection against health dangers including radiation - to investigate residents' fears about phone masts.

The news comes after dozens of parents temporarily withdrew their children from St Edward's Catholic Primary School and Warwickshire County Council called for a mast next to the school to be removed.

County council officials say the health of the children at the school is 'a prime concern' and, although emissions tests conducted on behalf of mast owners O2 showed levels 995 times below the permitted maximum, the authority opposes the mast 'on a matter of principle'.

Eric Wood, county education officer, said: "We will support anything that we can do to remove it, and would urge O2 to relocate the mast for the peace of mind of the local community."

Gill Owen, headteacher of St Edward's, said: "Like the parents I am uneasy about the presence of the mast, and I am happy for them to campaign against it. But I would ask that they continue to conduct matters through the appropriate channels, and ensure that their children's education continues unaffected while this matter is being resolved."

However, parents say they plan to protest again from 9am on Friday and every Friday until the matter is resolved.

http://www.tamworthherald.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=159922&command=displayContent&sourceNode=159918&contentPK=12730683

This group used the same tactics as we did in our local campaign. At proposal stage we collected 800+ petition and everyone said they would not use 3G phones. Campaigners should add this box to their petitions as it gives operators the info they don't want to hear - people don't want this new technology with the higher risks involved.

Sandi



Phone mast is a 'gamble with our lives'

Jun 30 2005

Berkshire News website

By Richard Crowe

BRACKNELL campaigners say their health and the look of the neighbourhood will suffer if a 9.7m mobile phone mast is built near their homes.

Phone company T-Mobile wants to place the 3G mast and equipment cabins on land near Harvest Ride's junction with Newell Green in Warfield.

But angry neighbours say the mast is too close to their homes and that there is inconclusive proof that radiation beaming to a surrounding 250 metre radius will not be dangerous to their health.

Omega: The result of the Naila-Study shows that the proportion of newly developing cancer cases was significantly higher among those patients who had lived during the past ten years at a distance of up to 400 metres from the cellular transmitter site, which bas been in operation since 1993, compared to those patients living further away, and that the patients fell ill on average 8 years earlier.
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/398279

They are also concerned about the effect on nearby Larks Hill Nature Reserve and dangers the equipment cabins could have for drivers turning out of Newell Green and Harvest Ride.

Daryl Peagram, who lives with wife Edwina in nearby Hemmyng Corner, has founded Warfield Householders Against Masts (WHAM), which has collected 87 signatures for a petition.

The 34-year-old, who is technical director of Winkfield-based recruitment consultants Delta Compliance Ltd, has lobbied Bracknell MP Andrew MacKay and Warfield and Binfield ward borough councillors. He is even considering disabling the signal if all else fails.

Mr Peagram said: "Obviously the best way to stop this mast is to write to the councillors and urge them to reject it.

"But if it does go up and get switched on, I would wait until there is proof from doctors' reports that the mast is affecting health before trying to disable its signal with specialist equip-ment."

He added: "Forty-seven scientific reports say mast radiation causes anything from cancer to infertility. I hope the council will not gamble with our lives that all those scientists are wrong."

Mr Peagram said only one person questioned for the petition needed a 3G signal.

Borough council planners may consider the application at a committee meeting on July 28.

Mr MacKay has written to borough environment and leisure director Vincent Paliczka objecting to the application.

The MP commented: "I share the concerns of local residents who have approached me that this is quite an inappropriate site for a telecommunications mast.

"I believe that the mobile phone operators should get their act together and share masts where there is a limited number of sites to place them."

T-Mobile spokeswoman Sophia Parviez said radiowaves from nearby base stations compared favourably to exposure from distant masts and from TV and FM radio and other transmitters.

She said the company understood the challenge of minimising the environmental impact.

by Johnathan Schroder

Enfield Independent

Enfield Southgate MP David Burrowes is pushing for new laws to clamp down on the proliferation' of mobile telephone masts in residential areas.

He had a meeting with Jim Fitzpatrick, a minister in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, yesterday after joining more than 40 residents of Slades Hill, Enfield , at a protest on Saturday morning.

The group, who are concerned about the effect a 30-foot mobile mast would have on their health and property values, have just lost a year-long fight with telecommunications giant Orange , after the application was turned down by Enfield Council but passed on appeal by the Planning Inspectorate.

The deadline for residents to appeal against that decision at the High Court passed on Friday.

Elsa Evans, who lives in Slades Hill opposite the proposed site, admits residents have probably lost the fight against Orange as they would be unable to afford the high costs associated with taking out a civil action.

She said: "We have gone down kicking and screaming.

"I am going to have my home valued now and then again when the mast is there. I feel like the values of our homes are being snatched away."

Mr Burrowes is angry because he feels current Government legislation does not take local issues into account.

He said: "While the council does what it can, and in many cases refuses permission, it can only do so much.

"People have the choice of whether to buy a mobile phone, but at the moment residents have no choice about a mast being put on their doorstep.

"Especially with new 3G technology, there is the prospect of many more masts, which is a real concern."

He has appealed to Mr Fitzpatrick for changes in the law and has promised to carry on lobbying on behalf of residents.

12:59pm Thursday 30th June 2005