Parents to appeal Ballygunner planning decision on phone mast
Friday, September 01, 2006
AN appeal will be lodged with An Bord Plean·la before the end of this week against a decision to locate a mobile phone mast at Ballygunner GAA Club’s grounds.
The ‘Concerned Parents Against Masts’ group have confirmed they are putting the “finishing touches” to their appeal and will be sending it to Dublin by Friday.
It’s understood a letter has also been sent to the planning authority by the Parent Teacher Association at St. Mary’s National School in Ballygunner who are also against the development.
The club, who have done a deal with telecommunications company Meteor, received permission from Waterford City Council to retain the controversial mast on their grounds a fortnight ago.
However, local residents remain ‘up in arms’ over the decision, maintaining the city planning office has “let the community down” on the issue.
Last week, Ballygunner GAA chairman Pat O’Sullivan told the Waterford News & Star that he believed the mast posed no health risk to children at the neighbouring St. Mary’s NS, saying that 10 of his own grandchildren attended the school.
However, a spokesperson for the ‘concerned parents’ said this week that their fears weren’t in the slightest bit allayed by these comments.
“The fact of the matter is that we wouldn’t bother going to the effort we are if we didn’t genuinely believe these masts posed a risk,” she said.
“The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Telecommunications, of which local TD Brendan Kenneally is a member, has clearly identified children as being more vulnerable than anyone in these situations.”
“International research indicates that these masts pose a risk and that further research is needed. We don’t want our children in Ballygunner to become guinea pigs for this and so we will continue to fight this battle to the end.”
© Waterford News & Star, 2006.
http://www.waterford-news.ie/news/story.asp?j=23005
AN appeal will be lodged with An Bord Plean·la before the end of this week against a decision to locate a mobile phone mast at Ballygunner GAA Club’s grounds.
The ‘Concerned Parents Against Masts’ group have confirmed they are putting the “finishing touches” to their appeal and will be sending it to Dublin by Friday.
It’s understood a letter has also been sent to the planning authority by the Parent Teacher Association at St. Mary’s National School in Ballygunner who are also against the development.
The club, who have done a deal with telecommunications company Meteor, received permission from Waterford City Council to retain the controversial mast on their grounds a fortnight ago.
However, local residents remain ‘up in arms’ over the decision, maintaining the city planning office has “let the community down” on the issue.
Last week, Ballygunner GAA chairman Pat O’Sullivan told the Waterford News & Star that he believed the mast posed no health risk to children at the neighbouring St. Mary’s NS, saying that 10 of his own grandchildren attended the school.
However, a spokesperson for the ‘concerned parents’ said this week that their fears weren’t in the slightest bit allayed by these comments.
“The fact of the matter is that we wouldn’t bother going to the effort we are if we didn’t genuinely believe these masts posed a risk,” she said.
“The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Telecommunications, of which local TD Brendan Kenneally is a member, has clearly identified children as being more vulnerable than anyone in these situations.”
“International research indicates that these masts pose a risk and that further research is needed. We don’t want our children in Ballygunner to become guinea pigs for this and so we will continue to fight this battle to the end.”
© Waterford News & Star, 2006.
http://www.waterford-news.ie/news/story.asp?j=23005
rudkla - 1. Sep, 13:49
