Campaign News - PRISM

Brierfield & Reedley

Old Greyhound Pub to site new technology

MOBILE phone operator O2 have seemingly fooled Pendle Borough Council into thinking it is technically justifiable to site 2 mobile phone masts within 200 metres of each other. A networking method unheard of in the mobile phone industry.

So why did O2 submit 'two' applications for masts so close together? In this article PRISM expose the scandal of underhand tactics used by operators agents to secure a mast...

In March (2005) O2's Agents submitted a planning application to site a free-standing mast adjacent to 100 Colne Road (near the Old Junction Pub). Then in April, whilst awaiting the March results, O2's Agents submitted ANOTHER application for a mast to be sited on the Old Greyhound Pub Inn, just 200 metres away!

The tactic used here is essentially to get the Council to 'choose between the two' when deliberating on each application. The tactic seems to have paid off, and a planning officer for Pendle Borough Council agreed that the 'forthcoming application (greyhound inn) on a building was more acceptable than a roadside structure'. The Greyhound Inn is now to be adapted to host the antenna on top of the 3 chimneys, with the equipment base at the rear of the Old popular Pub.

Safety first for fitness members
Prior to submitting the Greyhound Inn application, the owners of the Gymnasium next door to the Old pub were approached and asked if they would host the mast. After balloting its members the owners of the Gym refused to host the mast due to health concerns shown by its members. Several other companies were also approached and PRISM would like to thank them for taking into account current potential health concerns and refusing to host the phone mast.

The vice chairman of PRISM spoke against both mast applications at the Brierfield & Reedley Council meeting at Brierfield Town hall, warning Councillors of the multiple application tactic used by the agents.

Anyone concerned (parents, residents etc) about this mast installation should speak/write to their local Councillor and MP and/or contact us using the Email PRISM link below.

Changes to local plan policy top of PRISM’s agenda

Pendle Borough Council are responsible for preparing what’s called a ‘Local Plan’. The policies within this plan dictate how future development is controlled. The Local Plan is now in its 2nd stage re-deposit and as such PRISM have made a representation and are aiming to change Policy 38 – Telecommunications.

The original policy on telecommunications had been changed seemingly omitting many sections that would safeguard specific designated sensitive areas such as listed buildings and green belts. Here at PRISM we noted that so far their had been no objections to the changes and we have therefore decided to object to the outdated policy. We aim to replace it with a policy that is more in-line with the precautionary principle regarding health concerns and to safeguard sensitive areas.

PRISM’s Vice-chairman stated that “the existing policy requires updating to ensure statutory legislation is used along with policies contained in the local plan. A large number of telecommunication proposals submitted to Pendle Council assume permitted development rights which, due to their nature, are not subjected to the policies in the Local Plan. These types of assumed permitted development no matter how well sited and designed can have a detrimental affect on the amenity and environment and as such must be subjected to related statutory and local plan policies”

“A prime example is the mast on Albert Mill in Barrowford which was refused permission in 2002 based on local plan policies, but was allowed to be installed in 2005 since the operators claimed permitted development rights, which in effect bypasses policies in the local plan. This leaves residents and councillors feeling powerless regarding control over the proliferation of mobile phone masts in built-up residential areas”.

We have forwarded our objection along with our policy proposals to Pendle Council and a date to attend an inquiry has been set at the Town Hall for Tuesday 4th October 2005.

PRISM have requested ‘five’ changes to local plan Policy 38 – Telecommunications. (This Article published 20th Aug 2005)

Sept 2005: Electrical fields can make you sick

Report by Sarah-Kate Templeton – Medical Correspondent (SUNDAY TIMES, Sept 11 2005)

A GOVERNMENT agency has acknowledged for the first time that people can suffer nausea, headaches, and muscle pains when exposed to electromagnetic fields from mobile phones, electricity pylons and computer-screens.

The condition known as electrosensitivity, a heightened reaction to electrical energy, will be recognised as a physical impairment.

A report by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), to be published next month, will state that increasing numbers of British people are suffering from the syndrome. While the total figure is not known, thousands are believed to be affected to some extent.

The report, by the agency’s radiation protection division, is expected to say that GP’s do not know how to treat sufferers and that more research is needed to find cures. It will give a full list of the symptoms, which can include dizziness, irregular heartbeat, and loss of memory.

Although most European countries do not recognise the condition, Britain will follow Sweden where electrosensitivity was recognised as a physical impairment in 2000. About 300,000 Swedish men and women are sufferers. The acknowledgement may fuel legal action by sufferers who claim mobile phone masts have made them ill.

In January Sir William Stewart, Chairman of the HPA and the Government’s advisor on mobile phones, warned that a small proportion of the population could be harmed by exposure to electromagnetic fields, and called for careful examination of the problem.

The HPA has now reviewed all scientific literature on electrosensitivity and concluded that it is a real syndrome. The condition had previously been dismissed as psychological.
The finding should lead to better treatment for sufferers. In Sweden, people who are allergic to electrical energy receive Government support to reduce exposure in their homes and workplaces. Special cables are installed in sufferers’ homes while electrical cookers are replaced with gas stoves. Walls, roofs, floors and windows can be covered with a thin aluminium foil to keep out the electromagnetic field – the area of energy that occurs round any electrically conductive item.

British campaigners believe electrical devices in the home and the workplace, as well as mobile phones emitting microwave radiation, have created an environmental trigger for the syndrome. There is particular concern about exposure to emissions from mobile phone masts or base stations, often located near schools or hospitals.

In January Stewart also called for a national review of planning rules for masts. The review was launched by the government in April. British sufferers report feeling they are being “zapped” by electromagnetic fields from appliances and go out of their way to avoid them. Some have moved to remote areas where electromagnetic pollution is lower.

The HPA report is eagerly awaited by campaigners. Alisdair Philips, director of the campaign group Powerwatch, said “This will help the increasing number of people who tell us their GP’s do not know how to treat them.” Rod Read, chairman of Electrosensitivity UK, added: “This will be the beginning of an awareness of a new form of pollution from electrical energy.”

Response to the above article from PRISM

This is the news campaign organisations such as PRISM have been waiting for.

The UK government's Health Protection Agency (HPA) have now accepted that electrical equipment such as mobile phone base-station masts do have an effect on peoples health and wellbeing. This 'acceptance' by the government's HPA is deemed so important by PRISM that we intend requesting a meeting with the MP for Pendle Mr. Gordon Prentice so that a private members bill will go straight through in 2006 (or earlier if possible).

The bill will impose stricter legislation on operators such as the removal of permitted development rights and safe distances placed on new masts, away from residential areas, schools and hospitals.

The only way to stop this madness of placing dangerous technology near our homes and children is to write to your MP explaining your concern. If you (or your children) feel you are suffering from electrosensitivity due to a mobile phone mast near your home or school please let us, and your MP know. Remember, the mast has been imposed upon you without your consent and it could be the electrical source making you or your children ill. After all, scientists are still researching the long-term effects of the new mobile telephony that pulses microwave radiation directly through buildings and hence through the human body.

Electrosensitivity is not a 'new disease' and the syndrome (sometimes called 'electro-hypersensitivity') has been around for a long time. EVERY new piece of electrical equipment that is imposed upon us into our natural environment increases the electromagnetic field (EMF) around us which in turn interferes with the bodies natural bio-rhythm.This is just part of the 'biological' effect that EMF's have on humans.

Sir William Stewart, chairman of the Health Protection Agency, has also stated in his 2004 report that there may be biological effects occuring at levels below current national guidelines. Stewart has already called for the government to revoke permitted development rights for telecommunications operators, the government have not agreed to do this and are constantly allowing operators to erect masts without needing planning permission.

It's clear that the current government are not listening to the plea's of the public when concern is shown about masts.

It's unbelievable that our current government are prepared to sacrifice our children's health in the cause of swelling Treasury coffers, and filling the pockets of mobile phone company shareholders.

Every single councillor in Pendle has shown support to oppose the insensitive siting of mobile phone masts. It's time this government listened to the cries of our Council and the public. Here at PRISM, along with other campaign groups, we will make sure the government listen. The time has now come to put an end to this madness of imposing radiation sickness on our families.

LATEST NEWS: Reedley phone mast plan thrown out by inspector

Neighbours were right about intrusive development

A GOVERNMENT inspector has upheld Pendle Council’s decision to throw out plans to erect a telecommunications mast in Reedley.

In his report, Mr George Baird said he had found “compelling reasons” to dismiss two appeals made by O2 (UK) Ltd against the decision to refuse permission to erect a mast on land at the Belvadere and Caldervale Sports Club.

Reedley councillor Pauline McCormick said: “It is great news, and it is good to see that common sense has prevailed. It shows we were right to stand up for ourselves and say ‘We don’t want this’. I think most of the people who were against the proposals are more relieved than anything”.

The report was submitted after a visit to the site on September 19th, when Mr Baird assessed each application, the effect the masts would have on the landscape, and the demand for 3G technology in the area.

The first appeal related to a proposal to erect a 20 metre high mast. Mr Baird said he was concerned about the visual impact of the proposed mast and antennae, the top of which would be visible from much of the surrounding area, saying: “The proposed mast would appear as an incongruous and unacceptably intrusive feature”.

The second appeal was over a plan to replace one of the three flood-light columns with a 17.5 metre mast. The report said it would have been visible from a number of houses which back on to the playing fields, concluding that such a mast would be “unacceptably dominant” within the landscape of a popular area of open space.

Blatant intimidation
It was the third application by O2 (UK) Ltd to erect a mast on the playing fields, after a similar proposal from Orange had been turned down. Residents and councillors said the repeated applications, under which potential locations were shifted around the sports field, amounted to “blatant intimidation”.

The company has the right to appeal to the High Court, but Coun. McCormick said the dismissal of the appeals should bring an end to the matter. “Now they have permission for masts at the Prairie and the Greyhound – surely that’s enough,” she said.

Article first published in the Leader Times, Oct 14th 2005

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Phone mast is making me sick !