We can switch off mobile phones, but can we also switch off phone masts?!!
Fortunately we have the choice as individuals to use or not to use mobile phones,
but none of use can really switch off a telecom mast which is transmitting 24
hours a day, every day subjecting hundreds of thousands of people to near constant
low-level radiation. But what we can do is to limit the spread of mobile phone
masts which are expected to double from 24 000 to over 50 000 in the next two
years.
We have now started to campaign on the spread and installation of phone masts
in Birmingham. We are forcing Birmingham City Council to take notice of our objections.
We are replying to every single planning application for phone masts in Birmingham,
outlining the health risks associated with emissions from phone masts, especially
the combined effect of several masts in the same area. With this in mind we have
been asking the council to supply information on the spread and location of phone
masts in Birmingham which they, as yet, have not done. Maybe the latest proposed
measures by the government will just spark the council into action (one can but
hope).
Apparently the government is now asking the mobile phone operators - how forcefully
remains to be seen - to supply information for a map showing the position of
all masts which would then be made available on a website. If they could also
get rival companies to agree to share masts even the better, but in the meantime
we need to try to contain the number of phone masts if at all possible.
Although environment minister Nick Raynsford still maintains that there was no
evidence of masts posing a health hazard (the Guardian March 17, 2001), it was
announced yesterday that schools will have an effective veto on the siting of
mobile phone masts, and councils will have to go through extended planning procedures
before masts are erected. The new planning guidance ensures that school governors
are consulted on the siting of masts and allows for more extensive public consultation,
something Karen asked for in our last newsletter. So there is a bit of light
at the end of the tunnel....
More light was provided by local residents' campaign groups across the City. In
Erdington the 10 year old school pupil, Alain Naughton from Fetherstone Primary
School in Erdington successfully rallied the local community to oppose the sighting
of phone masts at his school near Erdington Reservoir. The mobile phone operator
caved in after local residents held a peaceful protest at the headquarters of
Severn Trent Water, the owners of the reservoir.
Another campaign just started at the Holy Name School in Great Barr, where local
residents faced the 'men from Orange' at a public meeting at the school. The meeting
was very well attended with about 150 parents and local residents registering
their objections to adding another antenna to the existing 18 antennae already
installed on the BT exchange building. Parents have threatened to withdraw their
children from the school and are particularly worried about the health effects
of telecom mast emissions on children. The campaign got off to a good start with
BBC TV covering the meeting in its local news bulletin. The Holy School Action
group is part of Mast Action UK and encourages people to get in touch if they
are fighting a telecom mast in their area. Please contact Julie Cleavley on 0121
682 5001.
If you know of any other success stories then please share them with us. We are
happy to publish any accounts on how to 'switch off' telecom masts in our next
newsletter.
For further information have a look at the following website:
http://freespace.virginnet.co.uk/mast.action
Kirsten Söntgens