View case history...

Mum fights mobile mast just yards from home United Kingdom
Contamination level: Seriously concerned, but little or no symptoms.
Author: Linda Little Created: 17 Mar 2006 Updated: 17 Mar 2006 Viewed: 3906 time(s)
A mother has vowed to fight plans to erect a 15-metre mobile phone mast which operator O2 wants just yards from her home.
This case file has 2 entries and has been commented by 2 people
Sort: 

Health risks are unknown, she says Created: 17 Mar 2006
A mother has vowed to fight plans to erect a 15-metre mobile phone mast which operator O2 wants just yards from her home.

Linda Little, a teaching assistant of Clovelly Way, Bedford, received notification last week outlining O2's plans for a mast in Polhill Avenue.

The letter stated she had two weeks in which to lodge any objections, so Mrs Little began canvassing opposition from her neighbours and the three schools in the road.

She said: "I do not want this mast outside my children's bedrooms because we do not know what the health risks are with these masts.

"O2's letter puts in points to try to reassure us, including one from the World Health Organisation (WHO) saying there is no proof of any health effects.

"But the WHO also says there are gaps in scientists' knowledge about masts, and it is commonly believed that children are the most vulnerable of all.

"If I was looking from my kitchen window I would have to crane my neck to see the top of the mast, that is how close it would be.

"Surely there are places further away from the schools and homes which could be used."

Mrs Little has three children, 14-year-old Sam and 11-year-old twins Amy and Jack.

She cited John Rigby Lower School, Goldington Middle, Newnham Middle School and De Montfort University's Polhill campus as all in close proximity to the mooted mast site.

Coun David Sawyer (Lib Dem, De Parys) echoed her concerns.

He said: "The council's hands are quite tied on these applications. The Government gives mobile phone providers the benefit of the doubt because there is no conclusive evidence that these masts are unsafe. But by the same token there is no conclusive evidence that they are safe either.

"To be fair to O2, this is an example, for once, of a firm letting local residents and stakeholders comment before they make the application."

James Stephenson, a spokesman for O2, said: "We are getting bigger and bigger in this part of the country, and with the amount of new homes planned there will be more and more customers. That is why we are looking to expand.

"There has been nothing brought to our attention saying that harmful emissions are produced by base stations. We do not consider it to be a health risk at all."
http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=545&ArticleID=1372238
This entry has 2 comments.  Click here to view comments.   Click here to write a comment.

Health risks are unknown, she says Created: 17 Mar 2006
A mother has vowed to fight plans to erect a 15-metre mobile phone mast which operator O2 wants just yards from her home.

Linda Little, a teaching assistant of Clovelly Way, Bedford, received notification last week outlining O2's plans for a mast in Polhill Avenue.

The letter stated she had two weeks in which to lodge any objections, so Mrs Little began canvassing opposition from her neighbours and the three schools in the road.

She said: "I do not want this mast outside my children's bedrooms because we do not know what the health risks are with these masts.

"O2's letter puts in points to try to reassure us, including one from the World Health Organisation (WHO) saying there is no proof of any health effects.

"But the WHO also says there are gaps in scientists' knowledge about masts, and it is commonly believed that children are the most vulnerable of all.

"If I was looking from my kitchen window I would have to crane my neck to see the top of the mast, that is how close it would be.

"Surely there are places further away from the schools and homes which could be used."

Mrs Little has three children, 14-year-old Sam and 11-year-old twins Amy and Jack.

She cited John Rigby Lower School, Goldington Middle, Newnham Middle School and De Montfort University's Polhill campus as all in close proximity to the mooted mast site.

Coun David Sawyer (Lib Dem, De Parys) echoed her concerns.

He said: "The council's hands are quite tied on these applications. The Government gives mobile phone providers the benefit of the doubt because there is no conclusive evidence that these masts are unsafe. But by the same token there is no conclusive evidence that they are safe either.

"To be fair to O2, this is an example, for once, of a firm letting local residents and stakeholders comment before they make the application."

James Stephenson, a spokesman for O2, said: "We are getting bigger and bigger in this part of the country, and with the amount of new homes planned there will be more and more customers. That is why we are looking to expand.

"There has been nothing brought to our attention saying that harmful emissions are produced by base stations. We do not consider it to be a health risk at all."
http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=545&ArticleID=1372238
No comments yet.   Click here to write a comment.