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Families start fight to halt phone mast
Scotland Created: 18 Jan 2011
Families have launched a campaign to prevent a phone mast being built next to a school.

Vodafone and O2 are hoping to build a shared mast at the site beside Bishopbriggs Academy, Dunbartonshire, to increase 3G coverage for mobile phones in the area.

However, Woodhill Residents’ Group is objecting to the proposed site because it is in a residential area and is near three schools and a nursery.

The group erected placards at the site – the junction of Wester Cleddens Road and Angus Avenue – in an attempt to highlight the issue.

Its chairman, Donald Macdonald, said: “People have real health fears about phone masts – even the Scottish Government has stated the gaps in knowledge about any harmful effects are enough to justify a precautionary approach.

“Siting this mast a few feet from the fence of a school is not a precautionary approach.”

Mr Macdonald criticised the level of consultation undertaken by Mono Consultants, the planning agent working on behalf of the network operators.

He said: “The impact of a mast reaches more than just those properties that sit directly next to it.

“Mono has undertaken as little consultation as it feels it will be able to get away with.

“It has actively decided against publicising the mast, except to 14 houses in an area with close to 3000 homes.”

The increase of smartphones – such as Apple’s iPhone – throughout the UK have created a greater demand for 3G coverage. It offers users a faster internet service.

A spokeswoman from Cornerstone, the company managing the O2 and Vodafone network share, said 3G coverage in Bishopbriggs needs to be improved.

She said: “We recognise some communities are concerned about the deployment of radio base stations close to residential areas, but without these stations, mobiles will not work.

“All our base stations are designed, built and operated in accordance with stringent international guidelines laid down by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection.

“Our customers expect to be able to use their mobiles and devices where they live work and travel.”

East Dunbartonshire Council has a policy of not allowing phone masts to be built on any of its property, including schools.

A council spokeswoman said: “The Scottish Government has confirmed there is no reason to believe proximity to telecoms masts causes any harm.

“Consequently, planning authorities may not use health concerns as a reason for refusal of applications, whether they are proposed near schools and other sensitive locations or not.”
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Source: Glasgow Evening Times, Rachel Loxton, 18 Jan 2011

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