World-News

DAVID BALE
19 May 2007 09:44

Campaigners are rallying against plans to house a mobile phone mast in the tower of a village's church.

QS4, who have been commissioned by the Church of England to install masts in parish churches nationwide, have revealed its plans to erect a mast in the tower in St Botolph's church, in Trunch, near North Walsham.

It is believed the application, from mobile phone giant T-Mobile, would boost the church coffers by up to £5,000 a year.

However, Neville Lee, whose house is 30 metres from the church, with just a cemetery in between, wants the plan to be suspended until all health fears over masts have been allayed.

The 54-year-old teacher said: “At a drop-in session the agents were giving out this blurb about there being no proven health risks, low emissions and it would cause no damage to the church.

“But this is a rural area and we don't think there's the need for a mobile phone mast here.

“We believe the church as a Christian organisation should also think about the wider community and err on the side of caution in this case.

“Until there's evidence to say they are health free, we don't think these masts should be put near schools and homes.”

However, Jenny Owen, who owns the nearby Trunch Corner Stores in North Walsham Road, said: “I was worried about the health risks but the people at the meeting told us about the risks of things like microwaves and just speaking on your phone, and I was more reassured that it won't be a problem. At least you won't see the mast because it will be in the church tower so it won't be an eyesore.”

John Swain, of QS4, said: “It's part of T-Mobile's initiative to provide additional cover in Norfolk. The antennas and equipment will be installed in the church tower, and there will be low environmental impact.

“Twelve people attended a drop-in session and a number of them did comment favourably on the plans.”

The Evening News is fighting the installation of mobile phone masts near homes and schools until it is proved they are safe through our Put Mast on Hold campaign.

In January 2005 Sir William Stewart, chairman of the National Radiological Protection Board, published an independent report calling for a precautionary approach to masts near homes and schools.

An Evening News investigation that month revealed one in five primary schools in Norwich was within the threshold experts claim could put youngsters at risk.

Are you fighting a mobile phone mast application? Ring reporter David Bale on 01603 772427 or email david.bale2@archant.co.uk.

Copyright © 2007 Archant Regional. All rights reserved.

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By Rachel Fitch

Opponents to a mobile phone mast will fight to protect their "little piece of England".

Jackie Williams is against T-Mobile putting a 28ft telecommunications pole on a green in Saltdean.

Brighton and Hove City Council turned the planning application down but the company has appealed.

Mrs Williams is calling on neighbours to write their objections to the Secretary of State.

T-Mobile wants to install a replica telegraph pole housing three antennae on grass between Saltdean Vale and Hempstead Road.

There would also be equipment cabinets next to it.

The council rejected the application because it thought the cabinets would harm the character and appearance of the area.

Mrs Williams, of Heathfield Avenue, said: "Children play on this piece of land. It is a lovely little green and lovely plot of England.

"We moved from Ilford last year where it was too dangerous for children to play outside.

"It's great to be able to see them free to play here like we used to in the Fifties and it would be such a shame if that was taken away from them.

"The pole would be a real eyesore there and I don't understand why it couldn't be put just a few hundred yards up the road where there is a huge piece of land which the children don't use.

"There is no proof there isn't any danger from these poles.

"When this application was turned down by the council I thought that was the end of it."

She is canvassing support against the appeal from people in the area.

The deadline for comments about the application is June 4.

No-one from T-Mobile was yesterday available for comment.

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Statements, press briefings and further information links on wireless computer networks (wi-fi) and electro-sensitivity.

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editorial @hamhigh.co.uk
18 May 2007
John Marr

A GROUP of campaigners from West Hampstead are furious that mobile phone giant O2 wants to install another telephone mast on their doorsteps.

Vodafone installed a mast in Iverson Road back in 2003 and last year Orange was given permission to put one up near Iverson Tyres.

The installation of the Orange structure has been delayed because the telecommunications giant is seeking planning permission for a series of other masts in West Hampstead.

And now residents are furious that O2 has been given permission to put up a 15 metre mast in a similar spot on Iverson Road.

Trader Colin Slade, who runs clothes shop The Penguin Society on West End Lane, said: "The community as a whole feels very strongly about this mast and the location of it will be blocking the most fabulous view of the sunset."

Candice Temple, who lives nearby, added: "This ugly structure will de-grade the area and turn leafy Iverson Road into an industrial wasteland.

"The Vodafone mast is a graffiti ridden eyesore and it's also supposed to have railings around it, but it doesn't."

Neighbour Samantha Morgan said: "Vodafone don't follow up with cleaning off the graffiti and urine that the mast attracts. It's truly what the residents feared."

The campaigners, who have gathered a petition with 300 signatures, also fear an influx of masts to the area will lead to health risks because of increased radiation levels.

But council chiefs cannot take health concerns into consideration when deciding whether to grant planning permission for masts. They can only look at the suitability of designs and locations.

Roger Tavener, chairman of C. Tavener & Son, who owns the premises opposite Iverson Tyres, is furious that the council didn't consult him over plans for the new mast.

"We're the longest established private company in the area, we've been on this road since the 1930s, and to be ignored is absolutely monstrous. We only hear about these things once they've been rubberstamped."

O2 spokesman James Stevenson said "We believe the mast is perfectly safe. We understand people's feelings on the matter - we will come to speak to them about the masts, about the health issues, about our need to improve our service. I will come to speak to them, or else we can hold a meeting where they can come to us."

Copyright © 2007 Archant Regional Limited. All rights reserved.

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May 16 2007

FEARS surrounding mobile phone masts are nothing new, but they remain a topic that is rarely out of the headlines. With residents in Dorking ready to do battle against plans for a mast at Haybarn House, in South Street, SSIIO uncovers how many other masts are in Mole Valley

WITH mobile phones an essential part of everyday life for the vast majority of Britons,it is not surprising that the likes of Vodafone and O2 are always searching for better signal coverage.

We all want to be able to use our phones whenever and whereever we like and that demand has led to an explosion in the number of telecommunication masts going up around the country.

In the past five years Mole Valley District Council has decided on 110 applications for phone masts or related items. Of these, 74 have been allowed.

Locations for these masts range from railway stations, shops and golf clubs to theatres, post offices and pubs.

Farms are also a popular venue, and there are even some to be found at local churches.

The last full count of masts that Mole Valley District Council carried out was in 2002 when it listed 56 masts across the area.

But it is in the five years since this survey was carried out that the 110 applications were made for mobile phone masts in the area.

The council permitted 69 of these and refused 41. But of those that were refused 14 went to appeal and five were subsequently allowed - bringing the total in the district to 74.

Of all the telecommunication masts found in the region, Mole Valley District Council received rent on just one.

Income from that mast, which was located on the top of Wenlock Edge in Goodwyns,ended in February.

The total rent received amounted to just over £20,000 from the period of March 2002 to February 2007.

Time and again concerns are raised about possible health risks when masts are erected close to homes and schools.

The visual impact on the area is also often cited as a reason not to position a mast in a particular area.

The Ramblers' Association (RA), Britain's largest walking charity, has expressed concerns at the growing proliferation of masts and has been campaigning to ensure that developers are required to consult with communities affected by any mast proposal and that consideration is given to ways to minimising the impact of masts on the landscape.

A spokesman for the group said: "The RA believes that it is important for developers to carefully examine the visual impacts of masts before sites are chosen and high priority should be given to mast sharing and camouflaging in areas of countryside sensitive to visual impacts."

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By Gerran Grimshaw

LOCAL councillors have reacted angrily to plans for a 15-metre mobile phone mast in Selby, claiming it would be an eyesore.

Mobile network operators Hutchinson 3G have applied for planning permission for the mast on Barlby Road, the old A19, outside the Greencore Foods factory.

A similar application from the company for a mast on the other side of the road was refused several months ago, because of the open aspect of the site.

But Dianne Dumbell, the clerk to Barlby Parish Council, said the new plans would mean the mast was insufficiently concealed.

"The applicants realise the shortcomings of the site as there have been negotiations concerning seven other potential sites," she said.

"Due to the failure to secure one of these sites, they now wish to place their equipment adjacent to the public highway.

"It is stated that this is their least obtrusive equipment and that the mast is not a prominent structure - this is totally unacceptable."

She said the mast would be five metres taller than nearby street lights, and would not be integrated into the street scene.

Coun Stephanie Duckett, who sits on Barlby Parish Council and Selby District Council, said: "The views we're getting from residents around there is that there are better sites available.

"3G are proposing to put it on an open grass verge on a public highway.

"They could put the mast in the Barlby woodland, to the north of Greencore, then it would be hidden better.

"It would also be further away from the houses in Magazine Road. These are housing association properties with young families in them.

"Moving the mast would, I think, give them peace of mind."

Brian Spooner, a spokesman for Hutchinson 3G, said: "As part of our application, we have researched a number of sites.

"A number have been discounted in radio and planning terms.

"The Barlby Road site meets both environmental considerations and the needs of the Hutchinson 3G network."

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By East Lothian Newsroom

18/5/07

FRESH plans to erect a 10 metre-high mobile phone pole at Station Yard Industrial Estate are to be contested by community councillors.

Mobile giant T-Mobile wants to position the telegraph pole at the east end of the estate, just off Station Road.

The pole would support three mobile phone antennae inside a plastic shroud.

But a number of concerns were expressed at a meeting of Haddington Community Council.

“We can’t simply say ‘no’ to telecoms mast sites, but should continue our objection to this one on the grounds that the location in Station Yard is the most visually intrusive from the West Road,” said planning liaison officer Norman Lawrie.

“The alternatives outside Station Yard have not in our view been thoroughly examined, and the option of an alternative site inside Station Yard, at the same height or perhaps on a lower location but with a higher pole, has not been considered.”

Chairman Jan Wilson agreed, saying it was important that T-Mobile looked at all options.

“We need to make the point that they haven’t considered other sites in the area,” she said.

Community councillor Effie Renton said she was surprised that proposals for mobile masts had not been submitted closer to the farmland at Letham, which is zoned to have at least 750 new houses built.

“Why do they have to be 10 metres high?” she asked.

Fellow community councillor Colvin Denholm said he suspected this depended on the surrounding area and the ease of transmitting signals over the hills.

In a submission to East Lothian Council planners from T-Mobile’s agent, Daly International, it was claimed that there was a lack of other appropriate sites for such a pole in the area.

“Finding an unobtrusive design for this region of the Haddington area proved difficult due to the prevalence of open parkland and low-rise, medium density residential development,” said the submission.

“For the chosen site a steel structure was considered, as this type of installation is generally preferred in an industrial area.

“However, due to the abundance of trees and shrubbery in the surrounding district it was felt the lowest possible wooden structure that could be installed would be more appropriate.”

The submission revealed that a previous application for a telecommunications installation on the site had been refused “due to design issues”.

The fresh application, however, was considered to have overcome “all of the negative aspects of the original application”.

T-Mobile’s bid follows last year’s proposal by rival firm O2 to install a mobile phone base station in the tower of West Church, Haddington. The plan was ditched following local opposition.

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By Katya Mira

Three mobile phone masts planned for rural sites have been turned down for the second time.

Applications to put the telegraph poles at East Preston, Findon and Rustington were dismissed at appeal. They had already been turned down by planning officials at Arun District Council because of the impact they would have on the countryside around them.

Coun Ricky Bower said: "These are all welcome decisions. The inspector recognises that while national policy encourages the development of the telecommunications network, it also requires that environmental impact be kept to a minimum."

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16 May 2007

A CONTROVERSIAL mobile phone mast looks set to be installed at Banham despite opposition from residents who are worried about potential health risks from the electro- magnetic field.

Applicant T-Mobile wants to locate the 13.7m high monopole and equipment at the rear of a small industrial development in Heath Road.

It would be about 320m south east of The Eagle House School, which caters for children with special needs, and a small number of houses are within 100m of the site.

Banham Parish Council has objected on the grounds of potential harm to the health of nearby residents, and Breckland Council has also received six protest letters from villagers voicing similar concerns.

T-Mobile is required under the terms of its 3G licence to provide network coverage to 80pc of the population by the end of 2007, and it has submitted evidence that a mast is required in the Banham area.

Telecommunication masts up to 15m high are allowed without the need for planning consent.

However, under the terms of the Town and Country Planning Order, applicants are required to use the 'prior notification' procedure to determine whether the planning authority has concerns about the location of the mast and its external appearance.

Breckland's development control committee has been recommended to advise T-Mobile, at its meeting on Monday, that prior approval will not be required in this case.

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