Fight phone mast bid says council boss


23 November 2006 11:42

Families are being asked to rally round to defeat plans to set up a 25m phone mast in the middle of a developing residential estate.

Plans submitted by phone giant 3, formerly Hutchison 3G, for the mast on land owned by Toucan Hire Services in Havers Road, Mile Cross, were rejected in September by Norwich City Council officers under delegated powers, meaning it did not even go before councillors for approval.

But the phone company has appealed against the decision and Steve Morphew, leader of the city council and a ward councillor for Mile Cross, is calling on people to defeat it again. He said: “We are distributing leaflets to homes in the area calling on people to oppose it again. People need to get any objections in to the council by December 18. It would not be fair on the people moving into that area to find that a huge mast has been put right in the middle of them.”

Saeeda Clayson, 41, a mother-of-three who lives with husband Ian in nearby Junction Road, said: “We were celebrating before when it was turned down, but it's a concern again now that it's been appealed against. We are worried about the health risks posed by the mast, but it also seems a stupid place to put it in a built-up area. It would also look hideous.”

As reported, protesters sent dozens of letters to City Hall complaining that to put the mast there would be unfair to families moving into new homes being built next to the site.

The area was formerly used by Harmer's shoe factory, but in the past couple of years hundreds of homes have been built on the site.

A spokesman for 3 said: “We looked at more than a dozen possible sites and think that we have found the site with the least environmental and visual impact.

“There is a demand for 3G services in the area that we are required to meet. The base station meets government safety guidelines and the World Health Organisation says: 'From all evidence accumulated so far, no adverse short or long-term health effects have been shown to occur from the signals produced by stations'.”

Earlier this week hundreds of people turned up at a meeting to oppose a 22.5m phone mast on land near homes and schools in Thorpe St Andrew. Plans have been lodged by 3 to put up a mast on land near the Fitzmaurice Pavilion, off Pound Lane.

The Evening News has battled against the installation of mobile phone masts near homes and schools until it is proved they are safe, through our Put Masts on Hold campaign.

Sir William Stewart carried out an independent report looking into whether there was a link between mobile phone masts and diseases such as cancers. Although he found no link he called for a precautionary approach to siting masts near schools and homes while further research is carried out.

Ü Are you battling a mobile phone mast application where you live? Telephone Evening News reporter David Bale on 01603 772427 or e-mail david.bale2@archant.co.uk.

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