Prove there’s no danger
By Kevin Young
WE are often told there is no scientific evidence to prove that mobile phone masts are a health hazard and increase the risk of cancer.
But there are plenty of people who believe that it's positively harmful to spend a lot of time near them.
And that means any attempt to erect such masts in residential areas near homes or schools is likely to be not just controversial but strongly opposed.
Amazingly, there are already 35,000 masts around the country and the companies who provide the various networks argue with some force that they are struggling to meet our demand for clear mobile phone reception wherever we go.
But community concerns must be heeded and firms like Hutchinson 3G were mistaken if they thought they could just erect a 28-metre-high mast close to a housing estate like Park Farm at Feniscowles without provoking an immediate hostile reaction.
Masts more than 15 metres high require planning permission but apparently this one has been put up because operators are allowed to have a 28 day test period which was wanted in this case.
But until they can convince us there are no health risks companies should not be surprised that no one wants a phone mast in their own backyard.
7:00pm Wednesday 29th March 2006
© Copyright 2001-2006 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.lancashireeveningtelegraph.co.uk/columnists/latestcolumns/display.var.717694.0.prove_theres_no_danger.php
WE are often told there is no scientific evidence to prove that mobile phone masts are a health hazard and increase the risk of cancer.
But there are plenty of people who believe that it's positively harmful to spend a lot of time near them.
And that means any attempt to erect such masts in residential areas near homes or schools is likely to be not just controversial but strongly opposed.
Amazingly, there are already 35,000 masts around the country and the companies who provide the various networks argue with some force that they are struggling to meet our demand for clear mobile phone reception wherever we go.
But community concerns must be heeded and firms like Hutchinson 3G were mistaken if they thought they could just erect a 28-metre-high mast close to a housing estate like Park Farm at Feniscowles without provoking an immediate hostile reaction.
Masts more than 15 metres high require planning permission but apparently this one has been put up because operators are allowed to have a 28 day test period which was wanted in this case.
But until they can convince us there are no health risks companies should not be surprised that no one wants a phone mast in their own backyard.
7:00pm Wednesday 29th March 2006
© Copyright 2001-2006 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.lancashireeveningtelegraph.co.uk/columnists/latestcolumns/display.var.717694.0.prove_theres_no_danger.php
rudkla - 30. Mär, 23:10
