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Parents mobilise against the mast
HUNDREDS of objections have met plans to erect a huge mobile phone mast in historic Hampstead.
The telecommunications giant Orange has applied to erect a 22-foot reception-boosting pole outside a historic wall, which once protected an ancient orchard, in Fitzjohn’s Avenue near the junction of Lyndhurst Road.
A campaign has been launched with residents, councillors, parents and schools, arguing that the mast – taller than a fully grown giraffe – will destroy the charm of the conservation area and damage children’s health.
Fitzjohn’s Avenue Residents Association chairman Farokh Khorooshi said: “I think it is irresponsible to put one near seven primary schools before they fully know what the effects of these masts are.”
Applications to erect phone masts in Heath Street, South Hill Park and Green Hill have been thrown out in the past three years.
Hampstead Town ward councillor Chris Knight said: “There is something like 400 objections. I have seen some of the research about potential cancer clusters near these masts.”
According to Orange official guidelines, phone masts pose no health threat to residents and “radio waves fall well within the international health and safety exposure guidelines”.
Planning officials will on Monday decide whether to reject, accept or forward the application to committee. |
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Your comments:
It makes a very refreshing change that one of the councilors has actually researched the subject and realised that there is a huge amount of research demonstrating the harm caused to people by mobile phones and phone masts. Of course the phone company is going to deny there is any affect. They wouldn't be in the position they are now if their policy was to admit their product causes cancer! The fact that the French Government has banned young people from using them and the German government advises people to uses land lines wherever possible speaks volumes. At least with a phone, like cigarettes you can choose not to use one or how often to use it. With a mast you have no choice.
S. Densley
Of course Orange are wrong. On the contrary 80% of WHO research proves that this technology is not safe. Over 2000 independent studies, linking phone mast electro magnetic radiation with serious ill health including cancer, confirm that phone masts should not be sited within 350 metres of schools or housing. Numerous studies have proved that melatonin, the cancer fighting hormone, is suppressed by this pulsing radiation. That's why the cancer clusters continue to increase in the vicinity of phone masts. Phone operators dismiss such research, alleging that their own studies suggest no health risk. However last year the national press revealed that a phone operator covered up the damaging results of their own research. The Ecolog Institute, a research organisation which examines the health effects of mobile phones, was commissioned to investigate the possible health risks of mobile phone masts. The 2003 Ecolog report confirmed:'Given the results of the present epidemiological studies, it can be concluded that electromagnetic fields with frequencies in the mobile telecommunications range do play a role in the development of cancer. This is particularly notable for tumours of the central nervous system.'The harmful effects of this unsafe technology is a time bomb which the telecoms industry is trying to obscure, just like the tobacco industry did with the harm caused by smoking. Unless the public starts to make a stand the serious impact on our health will increase dramatically before the government and phone operators have to admit the damage this technology is causing. Many of us are minimising our use of mobile and cordless phones, and removing wifi and other wireless technology so as to reduce our risks, despite the inconvenience, because the health risks are so significant.
JE
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