Phone Mast right next door - very worried!

[Lakota]

Hi, this morning I got a letter notifying us that there are plans to "re-roof the church room" (fine) and "site telecommuncications antennas there" - presumably a mobile phone mast (not so fine). There is one house between us and the church and I am home virtually all day with DS. I'm guessing that a mobile phone company has offered the church money in exchange for being allowed to stick masts on it.

I intend to object to these plans as I am very far from convinced they're safe. I know I could be accused of NIMBYism, but this is a residential area with loads of children and would be literally right next to houses, not even in a field or something. The other side of me is the church hall - where we go to playgroup! Is it worth trying to get these mums involved do you think?

Anyway, anyone have any experience of how best to phrase objections?

Hmm,lot of this going on.
My parents involved in a pressure group re this in Beddgelert North Wales.
Amongst other things,there seems to be an alarmingly high incidence of brain tumours in the area (sorry for freaking you.)
There is definitely strength in numbers.I can get back to you later tonight (after I've seen her) with details if you like.

Isit MASTA or something???

The research that has been done shows it is more harmful to stand next to your microwave than next to a mobile phone mast.

Thanks both, that would be brilliant if you could Moondaog, thanks.

Batters, we are not actually far from that area actually - South Norwood. I will look into it.

Close, but not that close, imagine it's a different but will check. Have found out Church of England have actually signed a contract with QS4 back in 2002 allowing them to use their buildings. See here

Agree it's a bad idea to stand in front of microwave but still dubious about constantly immitting mast right over my head which is never switched off, as opposed to defrosting some babyfood for 5 minutes twice a day!

Batters I think the new mast is on your way to the station. Has been there a while now, but cunningly disguised!

Topbanana .. where's that research then? because I've never seen it .. never seen any research to prove how safe it is

in fact they are not supposed to be put up within 200metres of a school

but the stinking companies get round that .. they are currently trying to put one over a pub near us .. which is 2 doors down from a nursery and within 150 metres of a primary school

mastaction.org.uk

There?s leaflets in phone shops about it. Don?t know who did the research but they?ve got NHS stamps on the back.

really bad. put pressure on your vicar - he should put the interests of his parish first, especially children.

I believe the Government go by the Stewart report from 2000 - so 6 years ago now - which came to the rather lame conclusion that there was no conclusive evidence that masts caused health problems and were therefore OK until proven otherwise. These new 3G masts are supposed to be a lot nastier...

I did also hear that it's no good protesting on health grounds - the Church is a grade 2 listed building so will also mention that.

I just got a letter from our school today saying the church across the road from the school is thinking of putting a mast on its roof. I am not happy because my children play out in the playground every school day and it is directly across the road from the church.

And how many of you complaining actually use a mobile phone?

i use it it for emergencies and texts only actually. And still doesn't mean masts should be next door to places where children live/go to school.

A huge amount of money is paid out to places that accept masts on their land.

If we weren't so obsessed by the mobile phone there wouldn't be a need to erect masts in the first place.

agree with that bev but there should still be more regulations - corporation greed is effectively turning us all into guinea pigs.

I don't Bev.
Sorry Lakota,didn't speak to my mother tonight,but haven't forgotten ok?

local church was offered 18K per year to site a mobile phone mast

they should not be erected within 200 metres of a school or nursery ... govt. guidelines though not normally enforced

there is a health risk .. but who knows how bad it is? there certainly hasn't been the long-term research done .. and there certainly hasn't been the research done on 3G

people may use mobile phones and ignore it

but its like the argument about electricity pylons .. no they're perfectly safe cry the experts .. no explanation for childhood cancer hotspots though is there

although with regards to electricity pylons the most that has been released as authorised researched is a slight increased risk in childhood leukemia .. epidimiological research again (hence statistical analysis and you know what can be done with statistical research)

.. just as with the vaccination debates .. it is whether its your child who is affected .. that is what is important in judging the risk

and who the hell needs to send pictures and video by mobile phone .. just because you can do it doesn't mean we should rush headlong into something without judging the adverse affects

potential adverse affects

potential adverse effects

ahhhh .. that's my early-morning rant out of the way

Just on the practicalities - from experience the church will find excessive disruption during installation from subcontractors who don't know what is going on and just want to drill another six inch hole through six foot of founteenth century stonework without checking with anyone whether it will damage anything. On balance the continuing disruption isn't worth the money.

But I'm sure those who want to complain would be keen to sign a standing order for their local church or school - and would never shove a dangerous radio-wave emission device up their own ear'ole. Or walk within a mile of those carsinogenic diesel fumes on those nasty road thinggies. And certainly not let their dc out of the house for fear of gangs of maurading paedophiles.

Isn't life a balance of risks?