World-News

Oct 5 2006

Wishaw campaigner Eileen O'Connor will give a high-profile speech to an industry watchdog in London this month about how she believes a mobile phone mast gave her breast cancer.

Meanwhile Mrs O'Connor, diagnosed with the disease five years ago aged just 38, is busy organising a ball celebrating her return to health.

She has fought a long battle against masts, claiming that antennae erected 100 metres from her home by TMobile - and subsequently felled by anonymous protesters - had made her ill.

Mrs O'Connor is now a trustee of the Radiation Research Trust (RRT), which is campaigning for safer siting of masts while trying to fund extra research into their health effects.

At a meeting of the Health Protection Agency in London on October 16, Mrs O'Connor will give a presentation of her concerns that exposure to electromagnetic fields might increase the risk of breast cancer and other diseases.

The body is chaired by Sir William Stewart, who in his work with the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones warned that there was no certainty that masts and phones are safe.

Mrs O'Connor said she was glad to be still alive so she could address the meeting - and has arranged a celebratory, fundraising ball for the RRT at Wishaw Golf Club on November 18.

She said: "People can take measures to help avoid EMFs by using mobile phones for emergency calls only. Stop using DECT phones, replace them with a fixed land-line phones and also avoid wireless communication until a safer technology becomes available.

"I believe we are finally getting closer to a breakthrough and will hopefully find the connection between EMFs and breast cancer as we cannot allow the relentless rise in breast cancer to continue.

"It has been a difficult five years coming to terms with breast cancer at a young age. However, it has been a great privilege to be involved within a cuttingedge campaign to gain recognition to possibly one of the biggest connections to this terrible disease and I am honoured to be in a position to represent the many people who are suffering throughout the world."

Eileen remembers her "difficult five years":

"In a celebration of life and being almost five years clear from cancer, I've decided to raise the roof and have a ball and raise money for the RRT.

"I have come a long way with the campaign against phone masts with the support of the RRT, SCRAM (Sutton Coldfield Residents Against Masts), doctors, and independent scientists, some politicians, the media and the many campaigners throughout the world.

"This is a landmark time for me and I'm almost scared to say that I'm now almost five years clear from breast cancer. I visited my doctor on November 5, 2001 covered in a horrific skin rash from head to toe and a lump in my breast.

"The lump removed on November 13 and I was diagnosed on November 20, 2001. The moment I heard those terrible words "I'm sorry, it's cancer", I knew I was given this awful disease for a reason.

"At first I thought I was supposed to go on to become a counsellor and help people with cancer, as I was into my second year training to become a counsellor; I went on to learn how to counsel people who are dying with cancer, and my eyes have been opened to the harsh heartbreaking realities of life.

"However, I now believe the real reason was to fight against what I truly believe is one of the biggest causes of cancer on the planet and I believe this is my destiny."

She added: "I do have periods when I want to stop the world and get off and go back to a normal life. I really enjoyed the six weeks' holidays off with my family and thought I never wanted to return to the campaign ever again - if only.

"However, here I am, back in the thick of it and beginning to prepare for my presentation for the EMF Discussion Group at the Health Protection Agency on October 16. I want to make an impact and hope I can hold my nerves as I realise how important this is.

"I'm sure I will be fine as I have many angels walking with me and helping along the way."

l Wishaw's Winter Black Tie & Tiara Ball runs from 7pm till late.

Tickets costing £40 are being snapped up very quickly. Mrs O'Connor said: "Funds raised will help create awareness and understanding for the serious condition known as electro-sensitivity and further research into cancer and genetic vulnerability to electro-magnetic fields.

"With your help we will continue the campaign for law and policy change demanding safer technology and sensible locations for phone masts, electric pylons and wireless communication.

"Please help to make our first Ball a night to remember, full of fun and laughter in a celebration of life, while raising money for this important global issue."

Raffle and auction prizes are needed, adding to the luxury hamper from Samworth Brothers and signed Villa shirt already donated.

Call 0121 351 2437 or e-mail eileen@ smokestackltd.co.uk for tickets, to donate prizes, or to book advertising space in the order of service for the evening.

Eileen's face is one of five currently appearing on an advert on the QVC channel for Breast Cancer Care after being chosen from thousands of photographs. The picture was taken and sent in by her photographer husband Paul.

© owned by or licensed to Midland Newspapers Limited 2006

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http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=breast+cancer

DOMINIC CHESSUM

13 October 2006 08:59

Angry homeowners are hoping a clause from the Maastricht Treaty could help them in their fight to stop a mobile phone mast being built near their homes.

Families living close to the site of the proposed 14-metre high mast, at the corner of South Park Avenue and Parmenter Road, say they will fight all the way to stop the application by mobile phone operator 3 from succeeding.

A petition has already been signed by more than 260 people and now in a new twist, Kevin Moore, who is spearheading the campaign, has written to the council citing the 1993 treaty which says when it comes to a potentially hazardous situation bodies should err on the side of caution and protect the public. He believes there is no evidence that phone masts do not pose a risk to human health and this means a mast should not be put up in this location.

Mr Moore, 56, who lives with his family in South Park Avenue, said: “We are fighting this on planning grounds first and secondly on health grounds. The main thing we are fighting against is that this is visually intrusive. But at the pre-application stage they rejected one at the corner of Buckingham Road and South Park Avenue on the basis it was too close to the school. Now they want to put it next to a park where hundreds of children go through the park gates. They did not want to put it near a school. Why, if it is not damaging to health? They cannot rule out health risks and according to the Maastricht Treaty they should err on the side of caution.” Mr Moore added there was a precedent for rejecting an application on health grounds when Vale Royal Borough Council in Cheshire rejected an application for a mast on top of a water tower in 2003, although this decision was overturned on appeal.

William Comery from Ericsson Services, which submitted the application on behalf of 3, said: “The World Health Organisation says there is no evidence of long-term or short-term effects on health from masts. We try and place masts in the least intrusive areas, but the hole in coverage is small and so we are restricted as to where we can site the mast.”

Are you worried about a mobile phone mast application in your area. Contact Dominic Chessum on 01603 772428 or e-mail dominic.chessum@archant.co.uk

Copyright © 2006 Archant Regional. All rights reserved.

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ROFFEY motorists were this week locked out of their cars, when it is believed a controversial new mobile phone mast disabled their remote locking systems.

John Pudney, managing director of Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge dealers The Horsham Car Centre, in Crawley Road, said customers had been unable to get into cars parked on the showroom forecourt since the mast was switched on last week.

And the remote controlled keys used on a third of his 30-car stock had been blocked.

International mobile phone giant O2 is stuck in a dispute with Horsham District Council (HDC) after it put up a 12.5 metre tall mast without the council's permission, on Roffey Corner, in Crawley Road, in August.

Full report in the County Times.

13 October 2006

All rights reserved © 2006 Johnston Press Digital Publishing.

http://www.horshamonline.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=507&ArticleID=1821378

PROTESTERS say they weren't at all surprised when a mobile phone network was granted permission to replace a 15m mast with one 5m taller at Teg Down reservoir, Winchester.

They had read that the decision had been approved on the city council's website several weeks ahead of a meeting on site yesterday (Wednesday) of its telecommunications sub-committee.

Chairman, Mike Read, said there had been several "hiccups" with the administrative process in connection with the application from mobile phone giants, Hutchison.

Case officer, Tom Patchell, said: "For some reason, the decision notice had been sent out when it hadn't been signed by a team leader."

Caroline St Leger Davey, who was there to protest, said she couldn't believe a report had even been written before the meeting.

"It gives the impression that it was a done deal," she said.

Hutchison had had an application for a 20m mast approved two years ago and the committee heard that the permission was valid for a further three years.

But the network submitted a fresh application to replace the existing mast in order to preserve the trees beside it.

Committee member, Roger Huxstep, said: "The crime was committed several years ago when the first mast was permitted."

"We have no legs to stand on in refusing this," said another councillor.

But it didn't stop the protesters putting up a spirited battle, which split the councillors two against two.

The deciding vote rested with the chairman, who approved the application.

He said: "I know it's not going to please some people, but it's already been shown that an application has been granted so I must go along with that."

Karen Barratt, a representative of Wessex Registry of Active Masts, said the application had "set a dangerous precedent".

She added: "This is a separate application. It has been two years since the previous one, not two weeks.

"Things don't stay the same. There's a different head of Sarum Road Hospital, next to the mast; there's a different head of Kings' school and there are new people living in the area. There should have been fresh consultation."

Mrs St Leger Davey said: "There's so much to complain about with this application. It should have been thrown out and they should be invited to put in another one."

Mr Patchell said the council had been sending details about the application to addresses on the GIS database that were more than two years old.

Some of the properties no longer existed and some had since become multiple-occupancy houses.

Liz Marsden, of Hutchison, said the 15m mast had "not been performing as well as predicted" because of the height of nearby trees.

© Copyright 2001-2006 Newsquest Media Group

http://www.thisishampshire.net/display.var.965916.0.phone_mast_approval_done_deal.php

WYTHALL residents have vowed to keep fighting against a 12-metre high phone mast, despite the council passing the plans.

Bromsgrove district councillors gave the green light to T-Mobile to erect the mast in Trueman's Heath Lane at a recent planning meeting.

Council planner Hazel Bailey said: "It was a very close vote - six to five. Objections were mostly on health and safety grounds which we couldn't consider because emissions were below recommended levels.

"The visual impact, a fake telegraph pole, would also be minimal, so I recommended it for approval."

One of the scores of neighbours campaigning against the mast is mother of one Rebecca Seery."The site is totally inappropriate. I and the villagers are considering taking the matter to a judicial review." County councillor Wally Stewart

She said: "My baby is 12 weeks old and her bedroom will face the mast.

"I'm frightened on health grounds - I don't believe the danger from these masts has been properly researched."

Protest organiser Teresa Clubb said: "We'll continue to go down every avenue to get this stopped.

"There are other sites here T-Mobile could use with our blessing."

She blasted Worcestershire County Council for giving T-Mobile permission to erect the mast on its land, saying: "The company won't have to pay rent, so won't bother looking elsewhere."

T-Mobile spokesman John Shaughnessy said: "Rent has absolutely no bearing on this. It is highways land and we have limited rights to access.

"UK experts and the world health association agree there's no reason to fear very low level emissions from phone masts."

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http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Cancer+Cluster
http://www.buergerwelle.de/body_science.html

But he added: "We did promise Wythall residents that we'd look at alternatives, and will keep our promise.

"But we don't want to get their hopes up because the site we have planning permission for is ideal."

Worcestershire county councillor Wally Stewart said: "The site is totally inappropriate. I and the villagers are considering taking the matter to a judicial review."

Bromsgrove MP Julie Kirkbride said: "Because of the strength of public opinion I hope T-Mobile with find another solution."

© Copyright 2001-2006 Newsquest Media Group

http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/sport/crystalpalacefc/eaglesnews/display.var.966930.0.green_light_for_mast_plan.php

Thursday October 12, 2006

By East Lothian Newsroom

13/10/06

MOBILE phone giant O2 hopes to strike a deal to install a transmitter inside Haddington West Church.

Planning permission has been sought from East Lothian Council for a telecommunications ‘base station’ inside the church tower, though the church has yet to give final approval.

The church building has been hit by a serious dry rot problem, which has left officials with a £70,000 repair bill, hindering the start of work on the second phase of the £200,000 hall redevelopment project.

While the base station would be a financial boost to the church, it would not generate enough cash to entirely fix the dry rot.

One woman contacted the Courier to say she was concerned about radiation emitting from the base station.

“The older people of Hilton Lodge are very close to the church, while the children of Haddington Infant School are taught close by – I really don’t think it’s safe when there’s doubt about these base stations,” she said.

“I know there’s a need for them these days – but surely the Garleton Hills would be more appropriate.”

But Graham Coe, clerk to the church’s congregational board, said there had been much consultation.

Church minister, the Rev. Cammy Mackenzie [ http://www.westchurch.co.uk/ ] was convinced that the base station would not harm anyone, said Mr Coe, while the Stewart Report commissioned by the Government in 2000 concluded that “the balance indicates that there is no general risk to the health of people living near to base stations on the basis that exposures are expected to be small fractions of the guidelines”.

Omega read "Base Stations, operating within strict national and international Guidelines, do not present a Health Risk?" under: http://omega.twoday.net/stories/771911/

The World Health Organisation, meanwhile, ruled that “radio frequency field levels around bas stations are not considered a health risk”.

Omega this is not true. See under:
http://omega.twoday.net/topics/Wissenschaft+zu+Mobilfunk/
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Cancer+Cluster
http://www.buergerwelle.de/body_science.html

“If somebody was to come up tomorrow with a piece of research which had credibility then we would still be in a position to pull out,” said Mr Coe.

He stressed that the O2 approach was not linked to the dry rot problem.

“Although the church has been carefully maintained over the years, the building, which is now around 120 years old, is really now showing its age,” he added.

The transmitter would be high up in the tower, out of sight.

http://www.eastlothiancourier.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=1838&format=html

12 October 2006

PARENTS who won their battle to stop a mobile phone giant installing a mast near a school have revealed they have another campaign on their hands.

Residents' action group Orange Squash, who successfully fended off a planning application by Orange, say they face a second campaign following interest from T-Mobile.

The proposed site, yards from Bedonwell Junior School, Bedonwell Road, Belvedere, has been deemed unsuitable by parents who fear for the healthy and safety of their children who attend the school.

Alan Eaton, founder of Orange Squash, said: "These mobile phone companies are like vultures.

"We get rid of one and then there is another waiting in the wings ready to pounce.

"It looks like we have another battle on our hands."

Last month bosses at Orange bowed down to pressure from residents and have revised their planning application to Bexley council, as reported in the Bexley Times.

The initial proposals outlined plans for a mast to be erected 100 yards from Bedonwell Junior School.

But Orange staff have shelved their original plans and have prepared an application for the mast to be installed at least 700 metres away from the school grounds following a eight month battle with the community.

Now T-Mobile is considering plans to erect a similar mast yards from the school.

Mr Eaton, who took his last campaign to Parliament after collecting more than 800 signatures from concerned residents, said the community is 'fed up'.

He added: "We have fought off one company and now there is another. We are fed up of all of this but we will fight another company if we have to."

A spokesman for T-Mobile was unavailable for comment as the Bexley Times went to press.

Orange Squash was backed by veteran journalist Esther Rantzen who led national campaign, SHAME (Schools and Hospitals Against Mast Emissions). For more information visit http://www.shame.org.uk .

Copyright © 2006 Archant Regional. All rights reserved.

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City Councillor Colette Connolly has welcomed the City Council's decision to refuse planning permission to Meteor Mobile Communications Ltd for the continuance of use of radio antennas, point-to-point radio link dishes and associated equipment at St Enda's Road.

In its judgement the council found that "the proposed development would seriously injure the amenities of the area and property in the vicinity." The site in question was on top of an apartment block, adjacent to a Montessori school and close to a creche.

Cllr Connolly is PRO of the Shantalla Residents Association. She said that she was pleased that the resident's concerns had been addressed. "Mobile phone companies must respect the residential aspect of neighbourhoods and also residents' health concerns in relation to emissions from such masts. I will urge the planning department to ensure that all the equipment will be removed immediately."

She said she was glad that the council had taken notice of Department of the Environment guidelines, although they had violated them when the original application got the green light.

http://www.galwayindependent.com/news/8922.html

devon.editorial@archant.co.uk

11 October 2006

PROTESTERS are preparing to fight plans to site a mobile phone mast on Bideford Parish Church.

The Rector, the Reverend Mike Edson, confirmed that, following an approach by the company Q4, the parochial church council had expressed interested "in principle," on the understanding that they could withdraw at any time.

But following a meeting called by the church for its neighbours, some residents have expressed concern and are inviting others to join them.

Mrs Elizabeth Roberts, who is a church member, said: "There are many uncertainties over the risks to human health from these masts, but much statistical evidence that they are harmful to people and particularly to children.

"While there is any doubt at all over safety I feel that these masts should not be put up in centres of human habitation."

Tim Langdon, who lives in Church Walk, said his main concern was that a mast on the church tower would be in line and on the same level as houses up the hill in Buttgarden Street, just 50-60 metres away.

"It strikes me that this scheme was designed for rural churches where the towers are higher than the surrounding houses, not on the same level as people's windows."

A protest group was now being formed, he said, and they would make representations to the planning meeting of the council.

Mr Edson said Q4 had a duty to consult on the plans with householders within a 50 metre radius, but they had contacted 179 people living within 100 metres. Three responses were received in opposition.

When it was realised that some people in the immediate area of Tower Street and Church Walk did not get the consultation letters, which went out in May/June, a church meeting was called on September 27 for these neighbours to attend.

"There is a planning process to be pursued," he said. "If there is any proven evidence that there is the slightest risk to health, we would not proceed.

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http://omega.twoday.net/topics/Wissenschaft+zu+Mobilfunk/
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Cancer+Cluster
http://www.buergerwelle.de/body_science.html

Copyright © 2006 Archant Regional. All rights reserved.

http://tinyurl.com/ozrdd

Proposals to erect mobile phone masts in Bersted and Felpham have been turned down by Arun District Council.

Members of last week's development control committee went against recommendations by council officers to approve the prior notification of the works.

Instead they agreed that the design and siting of the proposed 02 mast, to enable the company to roll out its 3G digital mobile phone network, sited on land opposite the Hollies, in Chalcraft Lane would visually effect the residents in the area.

The committee also said that the plan was against both district council policies and the West Sussex structure plan.

The latest proposals which also received the thumbs down from Bersted Parish Council is the latest in 10 unsuccessful attempts to gain planning permission to erect a 30ft mast in the area.

Full report in the October 5 issue of the Bognor Regis Observer

10 October 2006

All rights reserved © 2006 Johnston Press Digital Publishing.

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