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MOBILE phone giant T Mobile won planning permission for a mast in Manchester Road following a bureaucratic blunder.

Officers missed the 56-day deadline to issue a refusal notice allowing the phone company to go ahead and build a 12 meter high mast outside Majestic Wines.

Now residents are furious and have pledged to fight the phone company all the way to an appeal.

The refusal slip was received a day after the deadline and the firm wasted no time getting on with the job.

David Reynolds, 61, retired businessman and journalist, Judy Tams, 39, of Highfield Estate, Manchester Road, arranged a protest at the site, attended by up to 30 neighbours.

Judy, who is expecting her second child soon, said: "We’re shocked and dismayed by this. The first we knew of the mast going up was when the contractors moved on site and started work.

"As far as we were aware, it had been refused - the council had written to us on October to tell us so. When were they going to tell us - did they think we wouldn’t notice - they knew about this in October."

The application concerns a 12 meter high mast with associated ground cabinets to be built at the corner of Manchester Road and Dean Row Road.

Borough council officers refused the application on October 14 on the grounds of highway safety, acting under delegated powers, but the formal notification was not sent until October 17, outside the 56 day deadline.

Daly International, agents for T-Mobile, informed the council that as it missed the deadline it was "out of time" and therefore they had "deemed consent" to continue and build it.

David Reynolds said: "The planning department say there is nothing further they can do which I don’t accept. The council seem perhaps to have made a mistake and they seem to think they can walk away from it."

Judy said: "We’re also extremely disappointed with the actions Daly International - who as agent for T-Mobile are not acting in the spirit of the planning laws."

Ward councillor Paul Whiteley said he was disappointed that he too only found out about this when the building work began but he has since spoken to the chief executive.

He said: "The system is now being looked at closely and it will be altered and hopefully this is something that will not happen again."

Dean Row Councillor Jim Crockatt added: "I am very disappointed with Daly International. They knew the opposition and the dangers. I accept that it was a bloomer but we employ human beings."

Chief planning officer Peter Yates has written to the Daly International requesting a meeting to discuss the application .

He said the company’s approach to a working relationship with the council was not helpful.

He added that for T-Mobile to press ahead in building the mast was irresponsible.

A spokesman for T-Mobile said:

"Although in this particular instance the letter arrived one day late, we are within our rights to go ahead with the application as is our intention." Katrina McKeever

First published by the Wilmslow Express

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Just as the industry says, FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND!

Regards.

Agnes.
http://www.mast-victims.org

Mobile phone loophole that lets children access porn

08:11am 2nd February 2006

Loophole: Children can access porn for as little as £1.50

Children can gain access to internet porn via their mobile phones, a consumer grop warned today.

A loophole in phone safeguards lets youngsters obtain codes for adult websites by paying for them using premium rate text messages.

Researchers for Which? magazine got codes for eight porn sites using an O2 phone registered to a 15-year-old girl.

The phone company's filter system blocked adult material being sent directly to the handset - but still let through access codes to websites showing hardcore sex films, the consumer group said.

It cost £1.50 to pay for the codes which gave access to internet porn sites.

Although the phone company's filter system blocked the adult sites, young viewers could view by entering the codes into a computer, Which? warned.

The consumer group is concerned about the loophole which allows under 18s access to pay-per-view porn sites by paying by text rather than credit card.

Which? magazine editor Malcolm Coles said: "At the moment there's nothing to stop children getting hold of hardcore pornography through their mobile phone. It's easy to access and costs less than a couple of quid.

Loophole

"There are supposed to be safeguards to stop this sort of thing, but they're obviously ineffective. This loophole needs to be closed as soon as possible."

The number of pay-per-view internet sites accepting payment by premium rate text messages has increased over the past few years, according to Which?

Those accessed by the consumer group's researchers boasted that users could remain anonymous because payment was by text.

An O2 spokesman said some adult websites did accept payment via mobile phones.

"While it's the responsibility of those websites to prevent under 18s from viewing the content on a computer, we do not want our mobiles to be used as a payment mechanism without age verification," he said.

"We are in the process of updating the agreements in place with companies that provide mobile content over our network.

"This update will include a requirement for third parties who provide 'computer viewable' adult content, to age verify any customers who choose to pay for it using their mobile phone."

The spokesman said O2 took the risk to children "very seriously", adding: "We have an age verification process for any commercial content that can be viewed on a mobile phone. We also offer a parental control on all of our mobiles that can be activated from the phone."

The premium rate phone and text message regulator Icstis said mobile phone companies and internet content providers were responsible for carrying out age verification checks.

Spokesman Rob Dwight said: "Obviously this is a loophole. Kids can access adult content on their PC screens and be billed via their mobile phones. The situation shouldn't be allowed to continue."

He added: "We are working with the mobile phone networks to look at how this loophole can be blocked."

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=375880&in_page_id=1770

By Nicolette Allen

ANGRY residents living near the site of a proposed mobile phone mast are concerned about the number of masts cropping up all over Worcester.

O2 UK is planning to install a 17.5 metre pole at the Hylton Road Industrial Estate, Hylton road and another 15 metre high monopole in the residential area of Oldbury Road, St Johns, between Ambrose Close and Brookside Road.

Gordon and Pam Roberts from Ambrose Close said they were very concerned about the installation of a new mast.

"We don't know enough about the dangers of these phone masts to have them put up all over the place," said Mrs Roberts.

"The phone company could have chosen to install the mast in the countryside somewhere, rather than here in a residential area of a city."

City council planning officer Paul O'Connor said the council had received letters of complaint and rejection from people living in the Oldbury Road area.

"These rejections are mainly on the basis of concern about health issues," he said.

"However, from a health perspective the installation satisfies all international standards of safety and in terms of appearance, the mast is designed to have as little overall impact on the surrounding area as possible."

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

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

Spokesman for O2 Angela Johnson said a tremendous amount of research has been conducted into the safety of these masts.

"These are very low powered two way radio transmitters, with less power than a mobile phone," she said.

"We only put these monopoles where we absolutely need them, but this is a consumer driven business and the majority of people value a good mobile phone service."

A decision will be made by the city council's planning committee today (Thursday) with a recommendation that prior approval is granted.

• What do YOU think? Should there be tighter rules governing the positioning of phone masts? Do we need to know more about possible health issues relating to them? Write to the editor today with your views.

http://www.worcesterstandard.co.uk/news/default1.asp?id=1718

Téléphonie mobile : Guide des Bonnes Pratiques entre Maires et Opérateurs & Propositions à l'AMF et à l'AFOM.

http://www.next-up.org/pdf/lettre_Ouverte_Next_up_au_President_AMF.pdf


- DERNIERE MINUTE
- Communiqué du Groupe de Travail "Téléphonie Mobile et Santé " de l'Association des Maires de France (AMF).

http://www.maire-info.com/article.asp?param=6596&PARAM2=PLUS

PARENTS are protesting against plans to build a mobile phone mast close to a primary school.

Mother-of-two Michelle Esposito, of Otago Road, Whittlesey, started a petition when Vodafone submitted proposals to build the mast on a grass verge next to Alderman Jacobs Primary School.

She said: "I know we all use mobiles, but to put the mast next to a school and in a residential area is ridiculous.

"Parents with children at the school have signed the petition, as well as residents in neighbouring streets.

"Nobody wants the mast to go there, and everyone has been very supportive.

"The site is on an open piece of grass verge. There are no trees or buildings to disguise it, so it will be an eyesore."

If given the green light, the 10m-high mobile phone mast will be placed at the junction of Drybread Road, Bassenhally Road and Otago Road – just metres from the school.

Mrs Esposito collected about 100 signatures, and sent the petition to Fenland District Council planning office last week.

She added: "I know of two previous phone mast applications which have been turned down in Whittlesey, and residents objected against those.

"One proposed site was near the fire station, and another for the other end of Drybread Road.

"I know there are no proven health risks involved with these masts, but this one shouldn't be put so close to the school."

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

A spokeswoman for Vodafone said: "We can confirm we have plans for a new mast in Drybread Road, Whittlesey. We can't comment further until the plans have been finalised."

Wendy Coles, spokeswoman for Fenland District Council, said: "If an application is made to put a mobile phone mast up, the company has to comply with government guidelines.

"In this case, Vodafone complied with guidelines, and a 56-day period to consider the application ends this week.

"The only way it could be refused is n grounds of visual impact.

"Its proximity to a school would not be an issue for refusal."

A decision on the mast will be made by the council on Monday.

01 February 2006

All rights reserved © 2006 Johnston Press Digital Publishing.


http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=845&ArticleID=1334160

Public representatives on Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council will have the final say on whether a mobile mast will be erected near a primary school, crèche and playground on the Southside.The Cabinteely District Residents’ Association has been campaigning against a council decision to grant planning permission for the Vodafone mast to be erected on the Lodge House in Cabinteely Park.

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council originally granted planning permission for the mast last summer but after several objections from local residents the matter was appealed to An Bord Pleanala.

Two weeks ago, the board finally granted permission for the mast to the dismay of local residents who are stepping up their opposition because of fears for their health.

Deirdre Smith of the Cabinteely Residents’ Association told Southside People last week: “We are particularly concerned for the possible health effects on children attending the local girls’ primary school, St Brigid’s and for children playing in the playground in Cabinteely park.”

Ms Smith said residents had asked the six local councillors in the Ballybrack electoral area to table a motion withdrawing the council’s offer of a lease of local authority land to Vodafone.

This would prevent the phone company from erecting the mast until the outcome of the review of a Dáil report was completed, Ms Smith said.

If the report found that there were no adverse health implications, the residents would not object to the erection of the mast, she added.

The review of the report into non-ionising radiation from mobile phone handsets and masts is due to be completed in June of this year.

In the meantime it transpires that the mast will only get the go ahead if a majority of the 28 councillors vote in favour of leasing part of the site – which is on council property - to Vodafone.

Richard Shakespeare, the senior executive officer in the cultural and communications department of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, said that all disposals of land for a period of greater than 12 months are affected by a section 183 disposal.

“That is a reserved function,” he said. “The 28 elected members of the council have the right of disposal. The money generated from the masts is used for building playgrounds and is going into a project to build a further 27 playgrounds throughout the county.”

Cllr Dennis O’Callaghan (Lab) said last week that he was concerned about the close proximity of the mast to the lodge and the health implications that it could pose to residents.

“If the disposal of land comes in the form of a section 183 then I will most likely vote against it,” he said.
Cllr Larry Butler (FF) said that residents asked him not to support the mast application until the Dáil report was published.

“I will be voting against the erection of the mast on the basis that we should wait for the report,” Cllr Butler said.

However, Cllr Butler said he warned locals that if the council does not erect the mast the operators could “go across the road to a local business and get the mast just as easily”.

A spokesperson for Vodafone said anything that delays the establishment of their networks has an impact on their business and their customers.

“Our priority is to make sure that our customers can make and receive calls,” the spokeswoman said.

http://www.dublinpeople.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=711&Itemid=49

ANGRY mums staged an all-night sit-in protest at a Glasgow primary school.

More than 25 parents took over closure-threatened Carnwadric Primary on the south side - and have vowed to keep up their fight to make the council think again.

Education bosses want to shut the 239-pupil school on Capelrig Street and then merge it with Arden Primary at a new building for 360 pupils.

But parents say the new primary will be built next to a motorway and mobile phone mast, and will mean pupils being forced to walk a mile-and-a-half to school.

Campaigners fighting the plans have already submitted a 1600-signature petition to the council.

And yesterday, as the school day ended at 3pm, around 25 parents moved in to occupy the building, carrying sleeping bags and pillows, and waving Save Our School posters.

They headed for the gym, where groups of them took it in turn to spend the night, before finally leaving around 6am today.

The protest was organised by Pauline Gilgallon, chairwoman of the school board.

Pauline, whose daughters Bronwyn, 10, Charlotte, 8, and Romy, 7, are pupils there, said: "We have arranged a shift pattern. It is a peaceful disruption. We are making a statement about the closure of the school.

"I'm optimistic this will work. It's strength in numbers, but the bottom line is closing Carnwadric is about money.

"Even if the council decides to go ahead, we're not giving up."

Former pupil Lynn Wright, 30, was among the protesters.

The mum, whose nine-year-old son Dylan attends the school, said: "We're not taking this without a fight."

And as she left the school today, Sharon Wallace, 55, mum of five-year-old pupil Gemma said: "The parents were taking it in shifts to sit in at the school from 3pm yesterday.

"We were tired but felt as if we had to make a stand."

A decision on the future of Carnwadric Primary and dozens of other schools which are under threat will be made on Thursday.

A city council spokesman said today: "The consultation period has been finished for some time and every single response the council received will have been taken into consideration."

Carnwadric also has a nursery, creche and a Langside College campus.

31/01/06

Copyright © 2006 Newsquest (Herald & Times) Limited. All Rights Reserved

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/hi/news/5048424.html

Les images de la semaine / Pictures of the week.
- France Antennes relais - Peuple Refus

http://www.next-up.org/divers/image_semaine1.php