World-News

14 September 2006

VICTORY: Residents celebrate mast triumph

PARENTS who locked horns with a mobile phone company over plans to install a mast near a primary school have claimed victory.

Bosses at mobile phone giant Orange have bowed to pressure from residents in Bedonwell Road, Belvedere, and revised their planning application to Bexley council.

The initial proposals outlined plans for a mast just 100 yards from Bedonwell Junior School.

Now, following an eight-month battle with campaigners, Orange has prepared an application for a mast at least 700 metres from the school grounds.

Alan Eaton, a leading member of action group Orange Squash, said: "We are obviously pleased Orange has reconsidered the application and decided to move the mast further away from the school.

"Our main concern was the potential health risk posed to the children.

"Residents are pleased with this result."

He added: "Orange Squash would like to say thank you to all who have helped with our campaign and a big thank you to Bexley Times for your support."

The phone company has had a mast on the school site since 1995, but its new plan is to remove it and put up a mast 700 metres from the school.

The original plans outraged parents, who feared for the healthy and safety of their children who attend the school.

Mr Eaton launched a campaign against the proposal, collecting 300 signatures from worried parents in just two days.

He went on to collect a further 500 signatures and gave the petition to David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford, who handed it to Parliament.

The Orange Squash campaign was also backed by veteran journalist Esther Rantzen, who was leading national campaign SHAME (Schools and Hospitals Against Mast Emissions).

An Orange spokesman said: "We have written to the residents informing them of the changes and will meet them in due course.

"Our aim is to strike a balance between the people who pay to have a good service and those who live near the mast. We feel this new site is suitable."

For more information on the SHAME campaign, visit http://www.shame.org.uk .

Copyright © 2006 Archant Regional. All rights reserved.

http://tinyurl.com/k9som

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_suzanne__060911_cell_phones__26_childr.htm

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Children and mobile phones
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/1063256/

RESIDENTS have hit out at mobile phone chiefs after a mast was erected in a residential area.

T-Mobile installed the mast at the junction of John Street and Redbrae Road in Kirkintilloch.

The application was turned down by East Dunbartonshire Council, but the company won an appeal to the Scottish Executive.

One resident said: "I have real concerns about this mast.

"It's been erected less than 100 metres from another mast which is in the grounds of a nursery.

"This was done without consultation and without taking into consideration the fact that there are a lot of children living in the immediate area.

Health issues relating to mobile telephone masts have never been disproved.

"The apparent disregard for residents in this area is nothing short of disgraceful."

Richard Owens, T-Mobile's community affairs officer for Scotland, said: "We do understand that locating base stations in and around communities can sometimes give rise to concerns and do everything possible to keep the public informed throughout the process.

"In this case, we undertook voluntary pre-consultation with the ward councillor, local schools, nursery and the local housing association.

"At the point of submitting the application we then did statutory neighbour notification for properties in the immediate vicinity.

"Dozens of studies have taken place over twenty years on the safety of base stations.

"The World Health Organisation said in May this year: 'Considering the very low exposure levels and research results collected to date, there is no convincing scientific evidence that the weak RF signals from base stations cause adverse health effects'."

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

12 September 2006

All rights reserved © 2006 Johnston Press Digital Publishing.

http://www.kirkintillochtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=956&ArticleID=1764130

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WHO survey for children using mobile phones
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/2657187/

WHO, EMF, Electromagnetic Radiation and Mobile Phones
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/1194586/

10 September 2006 | 00:42

MORE than 200 people are protesting over proposals to put a mobile phone mast in Felixstowe cemetery.

The site has been offered by town councillors as an alternative to another site, which was in the middle of a housing area.

But now the new site has generated anger among families living near the cemetery in Langley Avenue - and they are calling for telecommunications masts to be put up on the edges of towns, well away from homes and young children.

Suffolk Coastal councillors are recommended by officers to approve the mast for O2 when they meet on September 14.

So far around 30 letters of objection have been sent to the council, along with two petitions with a total of 215 signatures.

Resident Denise Bell, one of the organisers of the petition and protest campaign, said: “I know there is great concern about potential health hazards from these masts, especially when they are near homes.

“This may be in the cemetery but there are homes just across the field and the signals from the mast would come straight at the homes with nothing in between, no interruption at all. I don't think it is the right place to have it.”

In letters of objection, residents have voiced concern that low level radiation will adversely affect health, the mast would be ugly and result in the loss of property values, and it should be at least 750 metres from any properties.

They also said using the cemetery showed a total lack of respect for those buried there.

Five schools in the area have been asked for their comments.

The mast would stand 15 metres high and have six antennae, plus equipment cabinets in a compound, and be opposite the Deben High School playing field.

The mast would fill a gap in coverage for the 3G network to ensure people can use their phones whenever and wherever they are.

A report to councillors said the previous suggested O2 site in Grange Farm Avenue was only ten metres from homes, while the cemetery site was 100 metres from any home.

“The coverage area for which a need has been established is a significantly built up residential area with a number of schools within and close by,” said the report.

“There are very little opportunities within this highly built up residential area to site the mast a greater distance from houses and which also meet the technical constraints of the operator.”

What do you think of the mast plan? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk

Copyright © 2006 Archant Regional. All rights reserved.

http://tinyurl.com/ohzu2

DAVID POWLES

09 September 2006 13:50

Councils across Norfolk are inconsistent when it comes to making money by placing potentially harmful mobile phone masts on their properties.

The Evening News told last week how both Norwich City Council and Norfolk County Council were raking in thousands of pounds from telecoms companies by renting land to them for masts.

The city council has earned around £400,000 through the process, while the county council profits to the tune of £60,000 a year.

However, a Freedom of Information request has found that neighbouring South Norfolk District Council, Broadland District Council and Yarmouth Borough Council have no masts on their land, while doubts remain over the safety of installing them.

Liz Ashness, head of corporate facilities at Broadland, said: "It is the council's policy not to agree to mobile phone masts on its property."

The authority confirmed that it had previously refused requests to house masts at its Thorpe Lodge base and the East Norwich Inn, at Acle.

A spokesman for South Norfolk Council said: "We are committed to examining the scope to install masts on council-owned buildings, but investigations so far have not been productive.

"If we receive any offers from mast operators in future, we will fully examine all the issues, including the potential benefits and risks to the public."

Meanwhile, North Norfolk District Council has just one mobile phone mast on the Vicarage Street car park, in North Walsham, for which it receives £1,500 per year from Orange.

The issue of mobile phone masts has been contentious for some time while doubts remain over the perceived health risks. The figures released last week by the city council revealed that five of its residential tower blocks had mobile phone masts on top of them, putting hundreds of people at risk from the possible effect of emissions.

Aylmer Tower in Mile Cross has netted the council the most money - with £112,500 heading into City Hall's bank account.

Other masts which earn the council cash from mobile phone operators are Ashbourne Tower in Watling Road, Heartsease (£81,000), Normandie Tower, Rouen Road (£59,500), Seaman Tower, Mile Cross (£72,750) and Winchester Tower, Vauxhall Street (£56,500).

County Hall itself has half a dozen aerials and antennae while other equipment is located at Postwick park-and-ride and fire stations such as Sprowston, Aylsham and Wymondham.

Are you battling a mobile phone mast application where you live? Call reporter David Powles on 01603 772447 or email david.powles@archant.co.uk

Copyright © 2006 Archant Regional. All rights reserved.

http://tinyurl.com/nqhdc

By Karen Grattage

RESIDENTS in Sheriff Hutton are facing a further delay in their campaign to have a mobile phone mast moved from near their homes.

Ryedale Council decided to seek legal advice before looking into whether it would be able to meet the £60,000 cost of moving the mast.

Protestors have led a long campaign after 600 villagers sent letters opposing the Orange telecommunications structure. continued...

But an administrative error meant the council missed the deadline for objections - giving the company the right to erect the mast at Dasket Hill in October last year.

At a meeting on Thursday evening, the council decided to instruct a barrister to find out whether it is possible to pay for moving the mast.

Planning committee chairman Coun Howard Keal said an answer was expected next month, and, if the council is entitled to make the payment, its Policy and Resources Committee will look into whether ratepayers' money should be spent.

Coun Keal said: "The protesters are saying on health grounds that the mast should not be near their homes - but according to the Government, there is no evidence it will present a risk to health. It is very difficult to sustain an argument that had the council got its objections in within the time limit it would have made any difference to the outcome."

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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

But he said the council was tightening up procedures to ensure it did not miss deadlines in future, and also to make sure residents are kept better informed.

Placard-wielding protesters, including several young children, met councillors outside the council chamber in Malton on Thursday to express their opposition to the mast's siting.

The villagers' determined campaign, which included picketing the area when engineers were erecting the mast, led to Orange negotiating with the council to find possible solutions.

The company agreed to look at moving the mast in the village - if the council foots the bill of at least £60,000.

But it is feared the cost could turn out to be higher, depending on the site found and how close it is to power lines.

Coun Keal said: "Protesters and everybody else will be unhappy that the situation is dragging on and we hope we can reach a conclusion as soon as possible for the sake of everyone concerned."

© Copyright 2001-2006 Newsquest Media Group

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/yorknews/display.var.914941.0.new_snag_in_bid_to_move_mast.php

A mobile phone company has admitted a letter concerning its application for a mobile phone mast 150m from a Cornish primary school went out late.

Ericsson Services says there was an error in sending the letter to St Francis School in Falmouth.

Some parents say they have not been given enough time to object, and a decision by Carrick Council is likely to be delayed for another week.

Ericsson Services say councillors have known since July.

Carrick was due to decide on Friday if it could agree the application for the mast at the Falmouth Business Park or would want more detailed plans.

But Mike Dobson, corporate affairs manager for Ericsson Services, said the letter to St Francis had gone off later than planned.

Mr Dobson said a letter was despatched on time to the nearby St Mary's School.

He also said the mast will be safe and will not be pointed at either primary school.

Published: 2006/09/08 09:15:22 GMT

© BBC MMVI

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/cornwall/5326572.stm