Submission from Lynne Featherstone MP to the Scrutiny Review of Mobile Phone Masts
Attachment on questions asked by Lynne Featherstone on Phone Masts
http://www.buergerwelle.de/pdf/questions_by_lynne_featherstone_on_phone_masts.doc
You could also look at Parliamnetary questions lynne has asked about it -see attachment.
I am also enclosing a letter Lynne wrote to haringey council on it.
Gideon Bull
Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Haringey Council
Our Ref: MastScrutiny
Date: Thursday, 26 January 2006
Dear Cllr Bull
Re: Submission from Lynne Featherstone MP to the Scrutiny Review of Mobile Phone Masts
As the panel will be aware - there are an endless stream of masts erected in the borough. Virtually each one commands its own group of local residents and parents protesting against its siting. Sometimes a particular mast application is defeated for one reason or another. However, there is an inexorable increase rolling ever forward. I have been contacted over recent years by many, many local residents who are extremely concerned primarily for the well-being of their children.
Whilst a high percentage of the population now use mobile phones and therefore inevitably there will be a need for masts to be sited, what is not clear is what damage is being done in terms of possible detriment to the health of those in proximity to mast sites. Therefore we need to do what we can to put in safeguards against the potential damage by protecting our most vulnerable both by preventing siting near vulnerable residents and by proper information dissemination.
The Council states that the 'planning system is not the place to determine health safeguards'. I would like to point out that the government have adopted the precautionary approach recommended by the Stewart Group. The Group concluded that it is not possible at present to say that exposure to RF radiation, even at levels below national guidelines, is totally without potential adverse health effects and that the gaps in knowledge are sufficient to justify a precautionary approach.
I have Parliamentary Questions down to the Government to ask them to carry out proper research into the health of 'clusters' around masts in situ for 10 years or more with a control group nearby so that we can establish from proper research the reality or otherwise of the suspicions that surround health problems in proximity to masts.
All ground based masts are already subject to planning control so that if the local authority considers that the development will pose a serious threat to amenity, it is able to refuse approval. Haringey Council should therefore take this into account, especially when considering a base station in close proximity to a school.
In relation to the Planning Service, I would ask the Council to ensure that the database of masts in the constituency is kept updated with information about current planning applications as well as the planning and consultation processes easily accessible.
Yours sincerely,
Lynne Featherstone MP
Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Hornsey and Wood Green
This is an Early Day Motion that Lynne tabled in Parliament.
EDM 767
MOBILE PHONE MASTS (No. 2)
14.10.2005
Featherstone, Lynne
43 signatures
Baker, Norman
Barrett, John
Brake, Tom
Breed, Colin
Burstow, Paul
Burt, Lorely
Cable, Vincent
Campbell, Gregory
Caton, Martin
Clapham, Michael
Clark, Katy
Cooper, Rosie
Cryer, Ann
Davey, Edward
Dean, Janet
Devine, Jim
Dodds, Nigel
Donaldson, Jeffrey
Durkan, Mark
Engel, Natascha
Etherington, Bill
George, Andrew
Hammond, Stephen
Hancock, Mike
Hemming, John
Holmes, Paul
Hunter, Mark
Jenkins, Brian
Keetch, Paul
McCafferty, Chris
McDonnell, John
Mulholland, Greg
Riordan, Linda
Robinson, Iris
Rowen, Paul
Simpson, Alan
Vis, Rudi
Webb, Steve
Williams, Betty
Williams, Hywel
Williams, Mark
Willott, Jenny
That this House acknowledges the benefits that mobile telecommunications bring; recognises the high level of concern in many communities such as Hornsey and Wood Green regarding mobile phone masts; urges the Government to undertake an independent and wide-ranging study of epidemiology in relation to mobile phone masts; believes that the current planning control is inadequate, failing to consider safety and local and environmental concerns; and calls on the Government to bring mobile phone masts, regardless of size, under strict planning control and to bring in the precautionary principle, to give extra safeguards to schools, homes and medical facilities from the risk of excessive radiation.
Please let me know if you want some more information or clarification.
Kind regards,
Mette
Parliamentary Researcher to:
Lynne Featherstone
MP Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Hornsey & Wood Green lynne@lynnefeatherstone.org
House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA *: 020 7219 8401 (Parliamentary) or 020 8340 5459 (Constituency) http://www.lynnefeatherstone.org/
http://www.buergerwelle.de/pdf/questions_by_lynne_featherstone_on_phone_masts.doc
You could also look at Parliamnetary questions lynne has asked about it -see attachment.
I am also enclosing a letter Lynne wrote to haringey council on it.
Gideon Bull
Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Haringey Council
Our Ref: MastScrutiny
Date: Thursday, 26 January 2006
Dear Cllr Bull
Re: Submission from Lynne Featherstone MP to the Scrutiny Review of Mobile Phone Masts
As the panel will be aware - there are an endless stream of masts erected in the borough. Virtually each one commands its own group of local residents and parents protesting against its siting. Sometimes a particular mast application is defeated for one reason or another. However, there is an inexorable increase rolling ever forward. I have been contacted over recent years by many, many local residents who are extremely concerned primarily for the well-being of their children.
Whilst a high percentage of the population now use mobile phones and therefore inevitably there will be a need for masts to be sited, what is not clear is what damage is being done in terms of possible detriment to the health of those in proximity to mast sites. Therefore we need to do what we can to put in safeguards against the potential damage by protecting our most vulnerable both by preventing siting near vulnerable residents and by proper information dissemination.
The Council states that the 'planning system is not the place to determine health safeguards'. I would like to point out that the government have adopted the precautionary approach recommended by the Stewart Group. The Group concluded that it is not possible at present to say that exposure to RF radiation, even at levels below national guidelines, is totally without potential adverse health effects and that the gaps in knowledge are sufficient to justify a precautionary approach.
I have Parliamentary Questions down to the Government to ask them to carry out proper research into the health of 'clusters' around masts in situ for 10 years or more with a control group nearby so that we can establish from proper research the reality or otherwise of the suspicions that surround health problems in proximity to masts.
All ground based masts are already subject to planning control so that if the local authority considers that the development will pose a serious threat to amenity, it is able to refuse approval. Haringey Council should therefore take this into account, especially when considering a base station in close proximity to a school.
In relation to the Planning Service, I would ask the Council to ensure that the database of masts in the constituency is kept updated with information about current planning applications as well as the planning and consultation processes easily accessible.
Yours sincerely,
Lynne Featherstone MP
Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Hornsey and Wood Green
This is an Early Day Motion that Lynne tabled in Parliament.
EDM 767
MOBILE PHONE MASTS (No. 2)
14.10.2005
Featherstone, Lynne
43 signatures
Baker, Norman
Barrett, John
Brake, Tom
Breed, Colin
Burstow, Paul
Burt, Lorely
Cable, Vincent
Campbell, Gregory
Caton, Martin
Clapham, Michael
Clark, Katy
Cooper, Rosie
Cryer, Ann
Davey, Edward
Dean, Janet
Devine, Jim
Dodds, Nigel
Donaldson, Jeffrey
Durkan, Mark
Engel, Natascha
Etherington, Bill
George, Andrew
Hammond, Stephen
Hancock, Mike
Hemming, John
Holmes, Paul
Hunter, Mark
Jenkins, Brian
Keetch, Paul
McCafferty, Chris
McDonnell, John
Mulholland, Greg
Riordan, Linda
Robinson, Iris
Rowen, Paul
Simpson, Alan
Vis, Rudi
Webb, Steve
Williams, Betty
Williams, Hywel
Williams, Mark
Willott, Jenny
That this House acknowledges the benefits that mobile telecommunications bring; recognises the high level of concern in many communities such as Hornsey and Wood Green regarding mobile phone masts; urges the Government to undertake an independent and wide-ranging study of epidemiology in relation to mobile phone masts; believes that the current planning control is inadequate, failing to consider safety and local and environmental concerns; and calls on the Government to bring mobile phone masts, regardless of size, under strict planning control and to bring in the precautionary principle, to give extra safeguards to schools, homes and medical facilities from the risk of excessive radiation.
Please let me know if you want some more information or clarification.
Kind regards,
Mette
Parliamentary Researcher to:
Lynne Featherstone
MP Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Hornsey & Wood Green lynne@lynnefeatherstone.org
House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA *: 020 7219 8401 (Parliamentary) or 020 8340 5459 (Constituency) http://www.lynnefeatherstone.org/
rudkla - 27. Jan, 18:33
