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?

well it is but we don't really get a choice in how to balance them do we? So there are some battles worth fighting and some you can't possibly win. I think the phone mast thing is worth fighting. i also fight for LPG buses, which my council has recently scrapped because of, surprise surprise, cost.

I agree, life is a balance of risks. And I do own a mobile phone, though I only spend about £5 a month on it, mainly on quick 'I'm here, can you come and get me?' type calls. It has a photo function, and I admit, I've used it. But do I need it? No. Balanced against the possible risk I've now found out about, I'd be happy never to use it again. I don't think the public has been told everything it needs to know, and the Government wants to make hay while the sun shines. Someone else will be in power to deal with the fallout when research finally proves theres a problem. Gosh, how long were smokers told by the tobacco companies there were no health risks?

Would you would be happy for your baby to spend all his or her time living right beneath a mast? Kids are in school 7 hours a day. I am a SAHM and DS is nearly one. My son and I spend virtually all our time at home, except when we're at playgroup, which is also right next to the proposed site of this flipping antenna!

Anyway, I have done some research and found out about proposals which have been turned down in the area. Health concerns will NOT be considered by planning officials but will be the key to getting neighbours to speak up. The reason cited for the last antenna refusal was that it was proposed to be put on a listed building. Even if buildings are not listed - phrases such as 'eyesore', 'out of keeping with the area', 'detrimental to appearance of environment' etc seem to helpful.

Lastly, don't be at sure that people in the neighbourhood know. The planning letter was delivered to my house in a brown envelope marked The Owner/Occupier. Easily overlooked, and strange as there are two flats in my house and just the one letter. The council manage to personally address council tax bills and you can be damn sure everyone would get one of those.

Lakota,

We had a similar issue here early last year and we managed to get the mast overruled. In that instance it was right in the middle of a residential area (using property that was owned by the electricity company). I think we might be in the same borough? Are you in Croydon Borough?

In terms of the "well you shouldn't use mobiles" argument, there would be less of an issue if each of the phone providers weren't setting up their own mast network and a separate 3G mast network as weel. One national network could have sufficed, couldn't it? We'd still need masts but perhaps far less of them.

I think that the local campaign was based on the mastinsanity approach.

Thank you all for your support and suggestions so far. Yes, I am in Croydon Borough. I did take a look at the council website and find a similar application in the area which had been turned down.

I am writing a leaflet now, and intend to draw up a petition and letter which locals can sign. There are so many schools around here, not to mention a day-care nursery which is literally just down the road.

Ladymuck - you don't have a copy of any letters which were sent do you? Do you know how many people were involved in protesting against it?

Sorry for the delay Dakota-haven't had a chance to log in for a few days.
OK,here are a few things...

www.planningsanity.co.uk
www.no2tetra.co.uk
www.starweave.com
www.mastaction.co.uk
www.mastsanity.org
www.no2tetrascotland.org.uk
www.protectsussexfromtetra.org
www.powerwatch.org.uk

A leading light (who tours and lectures) is

Barrie Trower
3 Flowers Meadow
Linerton
Newton Abbott
Devon
TQ12 6UP

01626 821014
(Unsurprisingly has no mobile no or e mail!!)

Contact in my parents' village is..

[email protected]

Hope these are of some use to you!