World-News

A LEADING mobile phone company has been criticised over its plans to build a 50 foot mast close to an old people’s home, a health centre and a college in Kilkeel.

Work has already started on installing a base for the mast adjacent to the Greencastle Street area and directly behind Kilkeel library, with O2 granted planning permission within the last few weeks. The telecommunications giant originally applied for permission in June of last year, with the application being advertised in the press.

However, one local source told the Democrat that there is widespread public disquiet about the imminent arrival of the mast, with many questioning the logic of positioning it close to a health centre.

“It’s very close to the clinic and the library and people aren’t too happy about it,” she said. “ On top of that, it’s going to be a complete eyesore.”

A representative of the nearby Slieve Roe nursing home, which currently houses 23 pensioners, said she and other staff were unaware of the proposed mast but predicted that relatives of some of the residents will be concerned at the plans.

“I’d prefer if we’d been consulted about this,” she said. “I know it must have been advertised in the papers but we knew nothing about it. It would be something that we’d need to know about. I think that the families of some of our residents might be concerned about a phone mast being put up so close to us.

“I suppose these masts have to go somewhere because people aren’t going to go without their mobiles but surely it would be better if they were put up away from built-up areas.”

Concerns about the mast were echoed by Kilkeel based councillor Henry Reilly, who described himself as disappointed that Newry and Mourne District Council “hasn’t acted” on the situation.

“It seems like it’s a massive piece of equipment to be going into a town centre,” the UK Independence Party representative told the Democrat. “If it was to facilitate the ambulances or something like that it would be different but there’s already excellent O2 coverage here in Kilkeel so I don’t see any need for it.”

Mr Reilly explained that the Council generally has a policy that telephone masts aren’t put up within 500 yards of any dwellings but accepted that this isn’t always possible.

“Because there’s no medical proof that these things are harmful, that sort of objection can’t be taken into account,” he added. “But from an aesthetic point of view this mast isn’t going to be the prettiest thing for the centre of the town.”

An O2 spokesman said the mast is to be installed to meet growing demand in the area.

“When we started looking for a site, a meeting was held with the Council and subsequently no objections to the site were raised during the planning process,” he explained.

“Whilst I understand the concerns of local residents, I would have to reiterate that there have been over 500 research studies into mobile phone technology and health and so far no scientific link has been made. Mobile phone masts are very low powered radio transmitters and we would emphasise this to locals.”

Omega many scientific link has been made. See under:
http://omega.twoday.net/topics/Wissenschaft+zu+Mobilfunk/
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Cancer+Cluster
http://www.buergerwelle.de/science.html

© Newry Democrat, 2007.

http://www.newrydemocrat.com/news/story.asp?j=7399&cat=news

The mast array on top of Bucklemaker Court multi in Dundee’s Hilltown.

Dundee City Council is taking rent on land it leases for mobile-phone mast sites, at the same time as councillors are voting against the erection of masts in the city (writes Brian Smith).

A spokesperson for the council has confirmed the council charges rent, but declined to reveal how much income the sites generate, on the grounds of commercial confidentiality.

The information emerged in the wake of questions posed by the Evening Telegraph, following the most recent reversal of a decision to refuse planning permission for a mobile phone mast in Gillies Park in Barnhill.

After a large-scale public campaign opposing the Gillies Park mast, councillors on the development quality committee voted unanimously to refuse planning permission.

That decision was subsequently overturned by an official from the Executive planning inquiry unit following an appeal by the telecoms operator Vodaphone.

The Tele asked if, as owners of the park, the council could say it simply would not allow the mast to be built on its land? Had they done this at any other site they own? Do they own sites where masts are located and, if so, do they charge rents?

Leisure and arts services convener Charles Farquhar was asked if the city council had ever said no to a mast in one of their parks. He said, “To my knowledge, we have never got to that stage yet.”

The council has several options if it chooses to continue to resist an application for a mast after losing the first appeal. All are likely to be lengthy, complex and expensive. And in the case of a further appeal under planning legislation, the advice from officials has been not to go ahead because of the expense and there being little prospect of success.

Refusal to allow construction on the basis that it is the landowner is possible if the leisure and arts services committee voted to do so, but that decision could take the council to court in an even greyer legal area.

The main mobile phone operators do have powers under the Tele- communications Act 1984, as amended, to, amongst other things, install equipment in the street and to apply to the courts for an order to place equipment on another’s property where they have been unable to obtain agreement to so do.

There are various caveats, procedures and conditions associated with these, and the other powers, in the Act. These powers do not override the need to obtain planning permission.

Perth and Kinross Council said they have only one phone mast from which money is accrued. A spokesman said, “This is located at the Canal Street car park in Perth. The council receives a rent of £7000 per annum from Orange for the mast.”

Ken Duncan, management services team leader with Fife Council, said, “The Council does not have any telecoms masts on council buildings or within schools or on residential properties.

“We lease sites for operators to build masts on and we have operators on some council-owned masts. At present, there are five leases for sites and two mast-sharing agree- ments. This produces an annual rental income to the council of £55,000.”

© All copyright D C Thomson & Co Ltd., 2007

http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/output/2007/04/17/story9574008t0.shtm

What are your thoughts on 'wi-fi-hi-jacking?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/vine/yoursay_tue2.shtml

Does anyone feel like phoning in now to this show?

WiFi hijacking on radio 2 until 2pm phone in (or e-mail in)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/vine/

What about paedophiles tapping into schools computers?!

Wi-Fi: a phone mast in the classroom?

thanks
sarah



My contribution to the prog, Sarah

Sylvia


From SylviaWright
Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2007 08:35:05 EDT
To: vine@bbc.co.uk

We are failing our children from the aspect of both health and safety - in the name of progress. WiFi is just another example of this - following hard on the heels of junk food, junk TV and junk fashion. The safety of young people using the internet either at home or at school is being taken out of the hands of their guardians - creating yet another "loophole" which will need to be addressed. The wireless industry are pushing numerous "beneficial applications" of the technology to maximise profits - little thinking of the consequences. That our Government and Health Protection Agency do nothing to curb their enthusiasm is lamentable - if not bordering on neglect!

I have had occasion to research this subject for several years and am constantly amazed at the ignorance of the scientific findings in other parts of the world - could it be that the facts are too unpalatable? One prime example is the rapid disappearance of recent "T Mobile buried report" article..... [ http://omega.twoday.net/stories/3586360/ ]

Cllr Sylvia Wright
S Staffordshire



http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Wi-Fi
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Wi-Fi

http://www.oe24.at/zeitung/wissen/article126144.ece



http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Bienen
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Bienen

http://bermudasun.bm/Main.asp?SectionID=24&ArticleID=33198


Informant: Mark G.

CITY planners say they are getting weary of schemes for mobile phone masts on the edge of Rothwell Park.

A Defra inspector has dismissed an appeal for permission to put up a fake telegraph pole with associated equipment on the south-west side of Leeds Road at Oulton.

Coun Don Wilson (Lib Dem, Rothwell) told Leeds East plans panel: "This is about the fifth or sixth refusal on this particular site.

"I think telephone companies are working on the principle that if they put in plans often enough they will wear us down.

Procedure

"Is there a way of refusing this so we don't have to go through the whole procedure again?"

Planning officer John Redding said that under new legislation the plans panel could refuse to consider a scheme at the third time of asking – if it was basically the same scheme.

"In this case the applicants made it slightly different by making the pole look a little less fake. But the inspector wouldn't wear it."

In his report the inspector concedes this is the best location for the mast. But it would damage the green belt and so he turned it down.

All rights reserved ©2007 Johnston Press Digital Publishing

http://www.leedstoday.net/news?ArticleID=2704221

08:00 - 16 April 2007

Concerns have been raised about plans to install a mobile phone mast next to a children's play park in Oldfield Park.

Phone company T Mobile has applied to Bath and North East Somerset Council for permission to put up a 15m tall mast with three antennas, along with an equipment cabinet, at Monksdale Road next to The Sandpits children's play area.

But neighbours have raised formal objections to the proposal and other local people have raised concerns.

Oliver Lindburg, of Monksdale Road, said: "I am anxious about the possible effect of this on a child. The health risks may not have been proven - there is less money put into investigating this than into developing the business of mobile phones."

Oldfield Park businessman and chairman of Moorland Road Traders' Association Barry Cruse said: "My immediate reaction is that this is right next to a children's playground and in a very populated residential area.

"It's not on. I'm sure it will be fought tooth and nail. The trouble with these sorts of applications is not enough people know about it before it happens.

"Hopefully we can make a stand and get everybody involved.

"It will affect everybody as everybody sends their kids to play in Sandpits and I'm sure they would think twice about letting their children play there if there was a phone mast right next to it."

T Mobile wants to install the mast to fill a hole in its network coverage of The Oval and Moorfields areas. The company investigated and rejected as unsuitable, for a variety of reasons, 13 other potential sites.

In a statement to the council it acknowledged that people were likely to raise concerns about the issue and said it had discussed the issue with planning officers and local councils. It said it had concluded that the plot was the best site available and that the visual impact of the mast could be shielded. It added there were no proven health risks.

The site is next to an allotments site and Bath Allotments Association has told the council it believes the land should be used for more allotments.

The proposed installation meets government health and safety guidelines.

Under current rules, the council could only refuse planning permission for the mast on grounds of siting and appearance.

b.murch @bathchron.co.uk

http://tinyurl.com/2ewag2