Massive backing for phone mast fight
By Hayley Cover
Michael Haines prepares to hand over his petition to the city council
A petition with more than 1,200 signatures has been handed to Oxford City Council in a bid to fight plans for a mobile phone mast in Marston.
Mobile giant Vodafone wants to put the mast - disguised as a telegraph pole - in Jack Straw's Lane, near St Michael and All Angels Church.
The site in Marston Road is only 100 yards from a previous spot where a mast had been proposed a year ago.
Marston resident Michael Haines, who organised the petition, had collected 1,288 signatures by Monday.
Mr Haines, 66, of Croft Road, said: "I got my final signature on Monday. I was very pleased with the support.
"Everyone was more than willing to sign it. I have been going round each area of Marston for the past two weeks which has taken a lot of time and effort, but it has been worth it.
"There was only a few that didn't want to sign it because of employment at the council."
This is not Mr Haines first petition. He collected 779 signatures when he successfully blocked the earlier mast application from the Newbury-based firm in November 2005.
Vodafone thinks the new location for the 10-metre high phone mast - which will provide high-quality 3G coverage to the Marston area of Oxford - will have less impact on the environment.
The pole is to be placed near a number of trees which will provide some screening for the site. But the residents think it is unsightly and are worried it could lead to health problems.
Mr Haines, who hopes the council will oppose this new application, said: "I think the city council has got to sit up and take notice now.
"There are a lot of signatures on the petition. The residents feel that this mast is being pushed on us.
"Why should we have to put up with something that is going to be unsightly and potentially dangerous to our health, when we don't even want it there?"
Vodafone spokesman Rob Matthews said: "All Vodafone's sites follow exposure guidelines backed by independent bodies such as the World Health Organisation.
Omega read "Base Stations, operating within strict national and international Guidelines, do not present a Health Risk?" under: http://omega.twoday.net/stories/771911/
"There is a need for improved 3G coverage in this area of Oxford and without base stations people would not be able to use their 3G phones.
"Vodafone works closely with the council and local residents to ensure that their design is as visually unobtrusive as possible."
© Copyright 2001-2007 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.oxfordmail.net/display.var.1158370.0.massive_backing_for_phone_mast_fight.php
Michael Haines prepares to hand over his petition to the city council
A petition with more than 1,200 signatures has been handed to Oxford City Council in a bid to fight plans for a mobile phone mast in Marston.
Mobile giant Vodafone wants to put the mast - disguised as a telegraph pole - in Jack Straw's Lane, near St Michael and All Angels Church.
The site in Marston Road is only 100 yards from a previous spot where a mast had been proposed a year ago.
Marston resident Michael Haines, who organised the petition, had collected 1,288 signatures by Monday.
Mr Haines, 66, of Croft Road, said: "I got my final signature on Monday. I was very pleased with the support.
"Everyone was more than willing to sign it. I have been going round each area of Marston for the past two weeks which has taken a lot of time and effort, but it has been worth it.
"There was only a few that didn't want to sign it because of employment at the council."
This is not Mr Haines first petition. He collected 779 signatures when he successfully blocked the earlier mast application from the Newbury-based firm in November 2005.
Vodafone thinks the new location for the 10-metre high phone mast - which will provide high-quality 3G coverage to the Marston area of Oxford - will have less impact on the environment.
The pole is to be placed near a number of trees which will provide some screening for the site. But the residents think it is unsightly and are worried it could lead to health problems.
Mr Haines, who hopes the council will oppose this new application, said: "I think the city council has got to sit up and take notice now.
"There are a lot of signatures on the petition. The residents feel that this mast is being pushed on us.
"Why should we have to put up with something that is going to be unsightly and potentially dangerous to our health, when we don't even want it there?"
Vodafone spokesman Rob Matthews said: "All Vodafone's sites follow exposure guidelines backed by independent bodies such as the World Health Organisation.
Omega read "Base Stations, operating within strict national and international Guidelines, do not present a Health Risk?" under: http://omega.twoday.net/stories/771911/
"There is a need for improved 3G coverage in this area of Oxford and without base stations people would not be able to use their 3G phones.
"Vodafone works closely with the council and local residents to ensure that their design is as visually unobtrusive as possible."
© Copyright 2001-2007 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.oxfordmail.net/display.var.1158370.0.massive_backing_for_phone_mast_fight.php
rudkla - 31. Jan, 17:13
