by Naomi Wright

This is Local London

CHINGFORD is being bombarded with phone mast applications, say local residents.

Fears about the number of phone masts being put up in the area were raised at a North Chingford Community Council meeting.

Local people said they were dismayed when a recent planning application for a mast at Chingford Hatch was rejected by Waltham Forest Council, only to be overturned on appeal.

They asked if the council could take up the issue on behalf of residents and bring the case to the High Court.

A number of local people said health concerns were their main grievances against phone masts and councillors were asked if the authority could monitor the levels of signal intensity from the masts.

Last Wednesday council leader Clyde Loakes said that the issue of phone masts was a national problem due to the increasing number of people using mobile phones.

He said he could not justify using thousands of pounds of council tax money to get a High Court order to overturn planning permission allowing phone masts to be put up.

Cllr Marion Fitzgerald said: "These masts are going up everywhere but if we took these cases to the High Court they would be shot down in flames.

"The council is doing as much as it can about it.

"But we need the input of all of you to help us when the applications come through."

Jun 2 2005

Birmingham Post

Port Vale Football Club is adding a second mobile phone mast to its ground to help to pay for new floodlighting.

The 24-metre high mast, comprising of six antenna, will be fixed on a new 34 metre floodlight pylon at the Vale Park ground.

Permission for the 3G mast was granted yesterday by Stoke on Trent City Council Development and Control Committee.

Port Vale club secretary, Bill Lodey, said they had received no letters of complaint about mobile phone equipment already installed at the ground, or protests about their plans for more.

But a spokeswoman for campaign group Mast Sanity claimed the profusion of masts in built up regions presented health risks to vulnerable sections of society.

Mr Lodey said the club had received planning permission four years ago to install a mast at the ground but the telecommunications company involved had changed its mind.

He said O2 had "come to an agreement" with the club to part finance the cost of installing the new floodlights in return for mobile phone equipment being housed there.

"We already have equipment on the floodlight tower we are replacing. It has been with us for two years and we haven't had any adverse letters or phone calls now or in the past. There is mobile phone equipment all over the maternity hospital roof."

DETERMINED residents have won their battle against plans to build a mobile phone mast in the heart of their community.

Mobile phone operator Hutchinson 3G proposed to build a 15-metre mast within K’s Nursery, Parkgate Road , Saughall.

But the plans angered nearby residents, who believed that on top of alleged health risks, such a proposal would also have a severe impact on the value of their property.

They twice took to the street outside the proposed site in a bid to get the plans shelved.

And in a move that delighted them, planning officers at Chester City Council also objected.

Obtrusive

A spokesman said: “We objected to the plans, which is as good as a refusal. It is thought it would adversely affect the green belt and lead to loss of residential amenities. It was considered visually obtrusive.”

Campaigners welcomed the news. Parkgate Road resident Elaine Cowell said: “I am very, very pleased. We would have been very worried about our health if it had gone ahead.

“We don’t care if we don’t have a signal. We can all use landlines. Let’s just hope they do not win on appeal.”

K’s Nursery owner Richard Kunze, who had given the plans his blessing, said he did not wish to make a comment at this time.

A spokesman for Hutchinson 3G said: “We have received notification of the planning officer objection and are in the process of reviewing any future action.”

Jun 1 2005

By Neil Elkes, Evening Mail Birmingham

PARENTS and staff at a city school fear they are the victims of a "bury bad news" scandal over plans for a mobile phone mast.

Teachers at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School, in Billesley, had only hours to notify parents and raise objections before the halfterm holiday.

They fear that the proposed 11.7m T-mobile mast may be a health risk to children and could be a blight on the Shire Country Park .

The park, known locally as the Dingles, was recently renamed The Shire after the picturesque land featured in Lord of Rings.

Head teacher Bernadette O'Shea sent a letter to parents just 48 hours before the school closed for half-term.

She said: "This is of great concern to us as a school as we have no evidence whether this installation will or will not be harmful to the children now or in the future."

Mrs O'Shea is urging parents to write to the planning department outlining their objections before next Wednesday's deadline.

She is worried the timing of the application just before half term may mean parents do not make their fears known to the council.

Birmingham City Council has planning guidance against siting masts within 200m of a school wherever possible, and this could fall foul of this.

The Government-backed Stewart Report recently urged caution over siting masts near to schools.

Although the same report, along with the mobile phone industry, concluded there is no evidence of a health risk.

Cowbridge Today

ARGUMENTS over the siting of equipment for the new 3G telecommunication equipment continue to rage, and residents at The Heathers are angry about plans for the base station in the grounds of Barry College . Now, Vale MP John Smith has met with the residents to show his support for their campaign. He told The GEM: “My sympathies and concerns are with the residents who have already had to endure the siting of a mast in their midst. “I have lodged an objection in respect of the visual amenity of the site. I am aware that there are planning guidelines in place that permit this sort of development, but it is up to local planning authorities to take into account the fears and concerns of residents.” He added: “I will be writing to the mobile phone companies to make them aware of my concerns.” The battle lines remain between the companies, who say that they are operating well within safety margins - and opponents who claim that there is fresh scientific evidence casting doubt on the safety of masts. A spokesperson for Orange said: “It has been a long-standing Government policy objective to encourage telecommunications operators, wherever possible, to share masts and sites as a means of reducing overall mast numbers. “The reality is that the local community want to use mobile phones, and without masts the phones won’t work”. O2 and Vodaphone are proposing to site their equipment on the Orange-owned base station, after protestors opposed the erection of masts at Severn Avenue and Bryn Hafren comprehensive school. The spokesman added: “ Orange is aware of the anxiety the proposals are causing in the area and is planning to hold a drop-in session to discuss residents' concerns.” Mrs Angie Homer, a spokesperson for the residents at The Heathers, claimed that scientists were warning that the microwaves emitted by a 3G mast were “chronic invisible stressors that have the same adverse effects on the body as being continuously exposed to loud noise.” She claimed that existing guidelines did not take this into account.” She added: “We really don't know what the impact of this radiation is going to be or what it is going to be like after 10-20 years of regular use.”

Jun 2 2005

By Adrian Short, Weekly News

MOBILE phone giant O2 has suffered defeat over the proposed siting of a controversial phone mast which Widnes residents believed would be a major eyesore and a potential health threat.

Since September last year, hundreds of residents have protested against the company's plans to construct a mast at the corner of Birch-field Road and Derby Road, opposite Widnes Cemetery.

But the company lodged an appeal with the Government's Planning Inspectorate after Halton Borough Council refused to give it the go-ahead.

The council has now claimed a victory for those who demanded the plans be thrown out.

A council spokeswoman said: 'The Planning Inspectorate agreed with the council that the proposal was not the best environmental option and like the council was not convinced that there was not a better alternative site in the vicinity.

'There had also been a large number of objections from local residents who were concerned about the possible effect on health.'

Cllr Rob Polhill, executive board member for the planning transportation and regeneration, said: 'The council's position on telecommunications masts is very clear - we will always work to ensure that the best environmental option is secured within the Government guidelines and in this case we were successful.'

Since the planning application was first handed to the council a series of objection campaigns were launched on the grounds of 'visual amenity' and the mast's potential for harming human health.

Protesters stressed concern that the combined radiation from the mast and two others nearby could have a greater health impact.

Residents say the borough already has enough masts but believe O2 is still determined to construct more Third Generation masts in other parts of Widnes.

Telegraph and Post 1/6/05

Telecommunications firm O2 Airwave has abandoned controversial plans to erect two flagpole antennae on top of the Carnoustie Golf Course Hotel.

Angus councillors had recently admitted defeat in the fight against TETRA technology being placed on top of the hotel.

O2 Airwave gained planning permission for the site after winning the backing of the Scottish Executive following the local authority’s failure to determine its planning application last year.

But the company revealed this week the hotel site was “no longer a plausible proposition” and it had identified a new site near Pitskelly Farm.

Ryan Stinson, acquisition agent for Airwave, said, “After many months of frustrating investigations, we believe we have, in consultation with the local planning department, discovered a new, even more suitable site that not only provides the necessary radio coverage but also offers little visual impact on the residents of Carnoustie.”

The proposed location of the 30-metre lattice mast is within a band of trees on the farm’s southern boundary.

“The trees surrounding the site are approximately 25-27 metres in height and will provide screening of the structure when viewed from Carnoustie and the surrounding area,” Mr Stinson said.

He said the site was surrounded by agricultural land and would offer very little visual intrusion to surrounding properties.

Last posted: Wednesday 1 June 2005 16:33

Bolton Evening News

CALLS are being made for mobile phone mast applications in Bolton to be suspended until the outcome of a new investigation into any hazards they pose is known.

Cllr Carl Dennis wants a freeze on all applications to erect masts across the borough.

He made the call after three new bids were lodged to build phone masts in his Harper Green ward.

Cllr Dennis has backed campaigns opposing each of the masts over fears that they could impact on the health of people living nearby.

He said: "We should not be granting permission to build these things close to homes and schools when we do not know how dangerous they could be. I understand that people use mobiles and that they need masts, but I believe we should try and put them as far away from people's homes as possible."

T-Mobile has applied to erect a mast in Highfield Road outside John's Chippy and Vodaphone wants to build a mast outside the Conservative Club in Plodder Lane .

Rival firm O2 has appealed to the Secretary of State against Bolton Council's planning committee's decision to refuse its application for a mast outside the Flying Shuttle pub, also in Highfield Road .

The two new applications are due to be heard by the councillors over the next few weeks, but current planning rules prevent members of the committee from rejecting the schemes on safety grounds.

Cllr Dennis, who is a governor at the Highfield Community Primary School , near to the proposed mast sites, said: "We all have concerns over the health risks involved with these masts, but can do nothing about it. I would like to see all applications held over until the outcome of this Government investigation into the safety of masts is completed."

But Cllr David Wilkinson, executive member for environment at Bolton Council, said: "There are lingering doubts over the safety of these masts but we have to abide by the law.

"What Cllr Dennis is asking for would require the Government to introduce a major change in planning rules because at the moment they tell us we should be prepared to support the installation of phone masts."

PETER WALSH
01 June 2005 12:04

Norwich Evening News

Phone mast campaigners fear their campaign to get a controversial phone mast removed is faltering.

Families living in the shadow of the O2 Airwave mast on top of North Walsham police station have been invited to a private meeting in the town to gauge the level of support for continuing their High Court battle.

Matthew Pennington, a member of the Campaign Against Tetra Siting (CATS), said: "I fear we're on a hiding to nothing at the moment. I can't see how we're going to be successful at the moment — that's what we've got to debate about.

"Hopefully we will get together most of the people who are opposing the mast.

"My only big concern is that no masts are being refused anywhere in the country at the moment."

Mr Pennington, 42, who lives with his wife Rachel Kirk and son Henry, three, said they hoped to find out more news from a barrister about the strength of their case before today's meeting took place.

He added: "I would wish to find out from the community whether they are prepared to back this or not and how much money they might be willing to put forward.

"If we get the barrister's opinion then we will know if we have a legal case worth trying to pursue."

Even if the campaigners were told they did have a case, Mr Pennington said the problem would be in trying to establish how much of a case they had.

"It might be very hard to get some idea of what sort of likelihood they would give us of being successful," he said.

"One of the problems is if we don't get Legal Aid we also get stuck with the costs from the other side."

In March, the Evening News reported how campaigners planned to take their battle against the mast, which will serve the emergency services, to the High Court.

The news came just a month after members of North Norfolk District Council said they would have to back down on plans to take court action partly due to the high cost.

A London barrister told council leaders chances of success were slim and a loss in court could lay the council open to substantial costs.

But the campaigners have found an environmental solicitor in Cambridge who is willing to take their case.

Phone company O2 has been involved in a long-running battle with campaigners over the siting of the mast on Yarmouth Road .

Last year North Norfolk district councillors refused planning permission and ordered O2 Airwave to stop using the equipment because of a feared risk to public health and a breach of planning control.

But the planning inspectorate allowed an O2 appeal in January, which enabled the mast to be switched back on, saying the council did not provide compelling reasons for withholding planning permission.

· Are you battling plans to site a phone mast in your neighbourhood? Call Peter Walsh at the Evening News on (01603) 772439 or email peter.walsh@archant.co.uk

South Wales Guardian 01/06/05

AN AMMANFORD pensioner has hit out at town councillors for failing to object to plans for a mobile phone mast in the town.

The pensioner, who does not want to be named, feels councillors should have consulted residents before telling Hutchinson 3G they had no objections to proposals.

"According to Paul Cutler, the surveyor involved with the proposed development, several bodies were consulted, including Carmarthenshire Council, Ammanford Town Council and our county councillor Hugh Evans," she said

"I am flabbergasted to think elected officials could take it upon themselves to speak for the people of Ammanford, without consultation.

"I hope it is not too late for both councils to offer objections."

At a town council meeting last week officials took the decision to write to Crown Castle, which is responsible for the installation of the mast at the former BT exchange on Heol Wallasey.

Councillor Jane Potter said she is very concerned the mast does not need planning permission.

She said: "I do feel this is a cause for concern.

"More than £7 million has been spent on research into the effects of the masts. Research does suggest the rays are harmful.

"I have advised those who have concerns to write to Carmarthenshire Council, Crown Castle and Hutchinson G3."

County councillor Hugh Evans said: "I have written to Crown Castle expressing the concerns of the residents. The problem is they don't need to submit an application to install the mast."