AIBU to object to a proposed phone mast 20m from my house and DD2's school?

[DarkBlueEyes]

That's it really. The tennis club opposite me (of which I am a member) have applied for planning permission to erect a telecoms mast with Shared Access, which will pay for our proposed floodlights. Members have not been polled/surveyed or otherwise consulted (despite me asking) to see if they support it. Demographically there are more 60+ members than members with school age children though the club is actively trying to grow this membership category. Apart from this, it's a lovely friendly club and I'm very happy playing there. The club shares a fence with the primary school and my driveway is opposite the entrance.

I'm not happy about the phone mast though. There are limited criteria for objecting and if I ABR I'd be grateful for any information and references to help me/us object. I read some old threads and several of them said "government guidelines say phone masts should not be built less than 200m from a school" but couldn't see any links to these guidelines.

I'm aware that there's a chance I AM BU! I'm trying not to be a Nimby (and am failing).

FTR mobile signal coverage is very good in this area and another club member has offered to raise the £50k necessary by other means. This has been declined.

Takes deep breath and clicks "create conversation" whilst simultaneously praying not to be flamed/crucified/otherwise pilloried

YABU

www.gov.uk/government/publications/mobile-phone-base-stations-radio-waves-and-health/mobile-phone-base-stations-radio-waves-and-health

More danger from using a mobile phone. It's non-ionizing radiation - not the 'bad kind'.

Thanks for that link, I will have a good look. I suppose I am also BU to be also concerned about property values (we've just moved here and are planning a re-furb)?

You've not explained why you object... So I cannot say whether you ABU or not

What will it look like? Its possible to disguise them.

I don't think you're being unreasonable. Write a letter with your concerns, and copy it to your parish or town council.

They are bloody ugly and may affect house resale for that alone.
In Germany they are super fussy about phone masts and wireless being in schools. It isn't the case here but it is interesting to see how different countries respond to information.
I would be annoyed too. They are eyesores.

They have to go somewhere. If you use a phone I don't think you can complain too much that phone masts are needed to make the phones work.

A similar thing is going on with a tennis club near me, but they consulted widely, held a public meeting and got permission. I think the council also consulted with local residents. I'd phone the council and see what they say

Oh and I think you a bit of a nimby

Do you use a mobile phone in your house? Do you use a mobile phone in the tennis club? Do you use your mobile phone on the way to your child's school?

If you answer 'yes' to any of these YABU.

But you are right that they should put up one that is the least aesthetically damaging! They are ugly fuckers and they need to put up a nicer one.

It is non ironising radiation. They will check and there will be an ICNIRP certificate for the mast which will show what is radiating. It could be for capacity rather than coverage. Also is signal good for all operators or just the one you use? I can't see why you would object really. I would not move to an area without great signal and always check when viewing houses and would discount one purely on that.

When you give up your mobile phone, then you can object....

yeah, didn't think so.

What is your reason for the objection? Is it only house prices or something else? Do you use a mobile?

Just for those who are saying I shouldn't object if I use a mobile, the service in this area is already excellent, as mentioned above, so no need to give up my mobile, it works perfectly well already :). Members opposed have already offered to raise the money instead of having a mast. I do accept that some people will not see a problem and some will. There are huge tracts of unoccupied woods a few hundred metres away which would be a more appropriate place to site a mast rather than right next to a primary school IMHO.

They are bloody ugly and may affect house resale for that alone.

Given that DH builds them I know that isn't true. In fact, I would defy anyone to spot some of them, the repeaters especially. They look like, or are little additions, to lamp posts, wall lights, small boxy things, slender poles (pale green colour is the give away for the older ones).

As for the 200m exclusion zone... that simply does not exist in law, though some councils could choose to apply it. Many schools have cells, repeaters etc on the roof, in the grounds etc.

And, as others have said, without knowing why you want to object it is really hard to have any discussion about it!

Poole Council has a lot of good info... www.poole.gov.uk/planning-and-buildings/planning/telecommunication-masts/

the reception isn't the point. the point is, if you aren't willing to put up with one nearby, then you're a huge hypocrite, becuase someone else has to put up with one near their house so you can use your mobile.
you say you are trying not to be a nimby. you are failing.

Are you saying that the club will get £50K for allowing this to be built on their land?

Leases are being reduced , have been for about 5 years. It would take 20 odd years to raise that sort of money, especially if the coverage is, as you say, already good. They just don't pay rent like they used to!

But why don't you want the mast? Why does it being near a primary school make a difference?

You also realise that if no one had a mobile phone mast near their house or school you wouldn't have great reception. Or you just don't want it near YOUR house?

You are being doubly NIMBY if your objection is based on the fact that your phone works perfectly well using masts close to others' homes

You may have good signal but that is just one operator. What about everyone else? With more people using data services there is more need for capacity so it may affect your signal in the future.

Thank you @ourblanche that is very helpful.

I'd be more pissed off at having floodlights on during the evening if I live opposite them to be honest.

Where do you suggest the mast goes?

You may have good signal but that is just one operator. What about everyone else? With more people using data services there is more need for capacity so it may affect your signal in the future.
That!
Also the new 4G services need more masts thnn 2G/3G for the same coverage.
If you or your children use mobile phones, you get more (non-ionising) radiation from the phone next to your body than you will from the mast many metres away and stuck up in the air.

You could install the flood lights and they can attach the antenna to those. This has been done at other tennis and football clubs.

Phone masts are about as dangerous (in terms of radiation) as bananas.