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Cllr Katie Dawson |
It’s a victory in extra time for Arsenal masts
GROWING fears for the health of residents were expressed this week after Arsenal Football Club were finally given the go-ahead to install an unprecedented 32 new mobile phone masts around the Emirates stadium.
In an unusual show of unity, all three political parties in Islington, the ruling Lib Dems, Labour and the lone Green councillor, condemned the decision.
The councillors say there is a “growing body of anecdotal and, increasingly also, scientific evidence” to suggest a link between radiation from phone masts and ill health, particularly in children. In a hard-hitting letter to Arsenal club chairman Peter Hill-Wood, they wrote that having 32 masts in a single cluster is unprecedented and adds to the uncertainty.
The letter is signed by Executive Member for Health, Lib Dem councillor John Gilbert, Labour councillor Theresa Debono (Highbury East) and Green councillor Katie Dawson (Highbury West).
They said: “We believe that the vast majority of residents around Ashburton Grove have a tolerant attitude towards Arsenal and are happy to accept many of the inconveniences associated with living close to a major football club.
“A great many of these same residents, however, feel that the installation of 32 phone masts in such a densely populated area, which includes several schools and nurseries, is more than they should be asked to accept.
“We are therefore appealing to you to reconsider your decision to proceed with this proposal.”
Islington council turned down the original application by the club earlier this year. But a Government inspector gave the go-ahead to the scheme after the club went to appeal.
Its report said there were no proven scientfic health concerns and the installations would be sufficiently high up that they would not worry residents.
Cllr Dawson said that residents and councillors were particularly worried about the proximity of the masts to nearby Drayton Park School.
She said: “It’s council policy not to erect these devices close to schools but I believe Drayton Park may be just outside the area of concern.
Powerwatch, an independent scientific group who monitor masts, counted almost 100 in a two square mile radius of the Emirate stadium, based on Government data.
Alasdair Philips, director of the Cambridge-based organisation, said he would be happy to assess potential risks. |
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