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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not want to buy a house with a pylon in the garden?

32 replies

kreecherlivesupstairs · 11/05/2010 07:58

Me and DH are currently in dispute. I intend to fly to England next week to look for a property to buy. There is a gorgeous, spacious house for sale, in the area where we want our dd to go to school with a marvellous garden. And a pylon smack bang in the middle of it. I am adamant that I won't even go to view it, he insists that I should. I will be going on my own, so he won't even know whether I go or not. AIBU to not want to even view it?

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 11/05/2010 08:00

so, don't go then

simples

Longtalljosie · 11/05/2010 08:00

YANBU. I wouldn't either. We're talking electricity, right, not a landline telephone pole?

Original poster
kreecherlivesupstairs · 11/05/2010 08:06

Yes, electricity. I don't often believe news stories, but remember the report about childhood leukaemia's being hugely increased if you live close to an electricity pylon.
It is a real shame because it's a cracking house.

OP posts:
AmazingBouncingFerret · 11/05/2010 08:18

My Grandmas house was close to a pylon, not as close as this one sounds to the house though.
The noise when it rained was awful.
I did have the chance to buy my grandmas house when she moved in with my parents but I chose not to because of the pylon.

Northernlurker · 11/05/2010 08:28

I read this as house with a python in the garden!

But regarding pylons - I wouldn't buy it either - or one next to a sub station. The link to serious illness for children isn't imo absolute beyond doubt - but there's enough doubt for me to never risk it!

Danthe4th · 11/05/2010 08:31

No I wouldn't buy it.

BeenBeta · 11/05/2010 08:33

No absolutley not.

You will find it extremely hard to sell again. Whether it is right or not, people always worry about electromagnetic radiation and more especially if they have children. Estate agents know this but will play it down as a factor to you.

I once looked at a house that had a massive radio mast behind it. We walked away. It did eventually get sold after many years on the market.

Do not go and see it at any price. It will still be over priced.

nighbynight · 11/05/2010 08:36

No, I wouldn't touch it either. I don't want to live in the middle of a ruddy great big constantly oscillating electromagnetic field.

LIZS · 11/05/2010 08:37

I wouldn't . Say you'll drive past and then decide but oif you won't buy not much point looking. For me it isn't only the possible link re. health but noise, interference, eyesore ...

Magaly · 11/05/2010 08:39

God no.

Don't do it. You'll all end up with three heads and green blood. I'm serious. I backspaced and replaced what I originally wrote with a 'joke'.

ABatInBunkFive · 11/05/2010 08:48

Are you talking about a metal pylon or a great big wooden pole?

OhYouBadBadKitten · 11/05/2010 08:55

I wouldn't want it.
at Castle Coombe circuit there are pylons over part of it. I made the mistake of wearing sandals there once. I couldn't stand near the pylons because I was getting teeny tiny shocks from all the blades of grass. Was horrific.
Mind you, its great for electrifying your relationship when dh and I kissed the sparks flew

lol at 'its a cracking house'

Original poster
kreecherlivesupstairs · 11/05/2010 08:55

A metal pylon. I knew I wasn't being unreasonable and intend to show him this. He thinks I am over reacting. Once his knob drops off he won't.
The thing is, the house itself is gorgeous, everything we want and the pylon explains why it is so cheap. Looks like I'll just have to view the other 12

OP posts:
ProfYaffle · 11/05/2010 09:03

Pylons are quite noisy aren't they? I remember walking under a line of pylons in the Peak District and they were buzzing and crackling in a sinister sci fi kind of way. Not to mention tv/radio reception interference etc

Magaly · 11/05/2010 09:04

yes green goo will come out of his knob before it turns orange, shrinks and then falls off.

troublewithtalk · 11/05/2010 09:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Magaly · 11/05/2010 09:10

what is the minimum distance a new house must be built away from a pylon? could a town planner at council advise you of that minimum distance?? would be worth finding out.

Merrylegs · 11/05/2010 09:10

If you search around on t'interweb you will find endless tales of people getting headaches near pylons, the constant humming, the possible link with childhood cancer, also Alzheimers and even Athlete's foot!

The point is, studies are inconclusive BUT the fact remains there is always going to be a big fat question mark over whether living near a pylon is safe or not.

If you buy the house you will be living with that question mark staring you in the face everyday.

And when you come to resell, you can bet your life that potential buyers will want those questions answered also.

NoahAndTheWhale · 11/05/2010 09:10

Even if there weren't a link having a pylon in the garden would be not nice.

SwansEatQuince · 11/05/2010 09:11

We have a pylon about 30 feet away from the front door and yes it is noisy when it rains plus it emits a high pitched whine occasionally. They spark and moan when the wind is strong.

We are in the country and every single one of our 'neighbours' who lived beside the other pylons have contracted cancer - cervical cancer has been the main cause of death of four women in this area three others had breast cancer.

The utility company deny any link (but then they would, wouldn't they).

I would strongly advise that you looked for another house.

troublewithtalk · 11/05/2010 09:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
kreecherlivesupstairs · 11/05/2010 09:16

Bloody hell Swans, that's hideous. I had already decided not to bother but you've conclusively convinced me. No pylons for me or dd. DH can buy it on his own if he's so keen.

OP posts:
Cannotfindaname · 11/05/2010 09:21

Another one to say that I wouldn't even bother looking. Obviously the companies are going to say there is no risk but I wouldn't be willing to take that chance with my DS's health or anyone in my house.

VoulezVouzCrochezAvecJACK · 11/05/2010 09:22

I wouldn't in a million years.
They are extremely noisy and crackle/bzz etc, you can't walk around underneath them or too close without static being an issue so that is half your garden out of bounds.

Plus you can't have , kites, remote control flying toys (small things I know, but still worth thinking about)

And that's before you get onto the still unknown long term effects of the electromagnetic field they produce.

BonzoDoodah · 11/05/2010 09:22

This article is in the British Medical Journal - gives advice to Doctors ...
its conclusion in a study of childhood cancer in relation to distance from high voltage power lines" is:

There is an association between childhood leukaemia and proximity of home address at birth to high voltage power lines, and the apparent risk extends to a greater distance than would have been expected from previous studies. About 4% of children in England and Wales live within 600 m of high voltage lines at birth. If the association is causal, about 1% of childhood leukaemia in England and Wales would be attributable to these lines, though this estimate has considerable statistical uncertainty. There is no accepted biological mechanism to explain the epidemiological results; indeed, the relation may be due to chance or confounding.

So if it were me - I'd show the article to your DH and refuse to move there.

(And even if he considers the evidence is irrelevant - if you don't like it you won't be happy there - so why move there?)