LATEST NEWS: More cancer clusters appear around mast
Residents say increase in illnesses are due to local phone masts [Dec 13 2005]
Residents and councillors in Creswell are demanding a ' temporary' phone mast near homes be pulled down, claiming it has long outstayed its welcome and could be affecting their health.
Creswell Parish Council wants the mast, owned by phone company Hutchinson 3G, removed from their skyline. They say in the past year four residents living within 400 metres of the mast and two permanent telecommunications towers [masts] on land at Holme Farm, Creswell, have developed cancer. They claim a further ten people living within one kilometre have contracted the disease in the past four years.
The 15-metre tower has stood on the farm land for more than two years and now has no planning permission. But Stafford Borough Council says the temporary mast should stay until a permanent replacement can be erected as it is providing an 'essential service' for local mobile phone users. Council planning officers are recommending planning permission should be extended to December 2006.
As well as voicing health concerns, councillors and residents are calling for the area to be blacklisted from further development by phone firms as there have been seven other planning applications for masts at Holme Farm. [Original article from icStafford News, Dec 13th 2005]
One of the masts, a 25 metre high [82 ft] pylon type structure, accommodates a controversial TETRA transmitter. TETRA is a new form of microwave mobile communications technology to be used by emergency services, mainly the police force. Many police officers who currently use TETRA handsets and powerpacks are known to have suffered serious health effects, including claims of cancers, from the use of the new technology.
Warning signs are here already
People living near TETRA masts have complained of cancer clusters and other illnesses, and the police concerns highlight question marks over the safety of the handsets.
An unknown number of Lancashire police officers have reported a string of medical complaints since the Tetra (Terrestrial Trunked Radio) system was introduced two years ago, and are now in talks with their legal representatives over lodging claims for compensation. |
