MAST IN BLEAN - 'MUST BE RESISTED'

Geoff Meaden, Chair of the local Green Party, is calling for widespread public support to resist the siting of a new phone mast near homes in Blean. Investigation of the health risks associated with mobile phone signals suggests mast siting should be well away from the residential population, schools and hospitals. He comments:

"The City Council quite correctly rejected a new mast at Blean because it would be inappropriate in the setting proposed, on visual and conservation area grounds. The appeal against this decision by the company cannot promise any mitigation of its proposal, since the company concerned (Orange) seems to need more masts to run its business than any other mobile phone company.

"Residents in Blean are quire right to be concerned about the health effects of mobile phone masts. We note that Switzerland has limits on public exposure to electromagnetic fields, like those generated by phone masts, which are 100 times below those used in the UK(1). Research done by Dr Gerard Hyland, which informs the work of Green MEP Dr Caroline Lucas on phone masts, suggests current European Union guidelines are inadequate (2)." He adds:

"There are legitimate concerns regarding the effects of mobile phone and TETRA mast radiation upon human health. In accordance with the precautionary principle, these concerns should be taken seriously in the relevant planning decisions. In the light of the current uncertainty over the dangers of masts, contract licenses and planning permission granted by local authorities for the siting of masts should be limited to specific time-frames. No long-term irreversible agreements should be entered into whilst such uncertainty about health risks exists(3)." ENDS C272 words