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SOME ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE PROPOSAL, PLEASE USE YOUR OWN WORDS
● Lack of respect for us?: The applicant did not feel all of the local schools
within range were worth consulting, which would have been expected
practice. There is no evidence (from the online paperwork) that homes and
business premises in the area were consulted. No Site Notice was seen
displayed by the proposed mast site to notify the public.
The proposal does not contain a
risk assessment given the known evidence of
dangers
and the fact that the technology has not been tested. It does not give
expected technical details like the mast’s power or the safe distance
required (‘exclusion zone’)
● Visual impact: At 20m / 66ft, the proposed mast would be well above
the height of the typical buildings and trees around it. It would stick out
like a sore thumb and cause anxiety.
This is totally
out of keeping with the ambience of the neighbourhood that borders on the Lakeside
conservation
area and would detract from
the view from some properties.
It will
affect property values for those close to it – assuming that they can sell at
all.
It
would also be far too close to The Shepherds Building office block.
● Conservation: Trees
within
range would also suffer the harmful effects of radiation. They are a key
part of the character of the area and provide environmental benefits.
International studies show that they
would be harmed by radiation levels already being recorded against masts in
our Borough. Our Local Plan gives priority to conservation.
There
are trees adjacent to the mast site. There are no plans to ensure that they
would be adequately protected and limit the harm on their root protection
areas, which would in turn affect their health. (The Delegated Officer's
Report for application 2022/02959/TEL56 suggests this is contrary to the requirements of
policies OS4 and OS5 of the Local Plan.)
Mast
radiation is also harmful to pollinators, such as bees (Video).
● Health and children’s safety: Several homes, play areas, schools and nurseries will
be within range.
Joshua Pearce of the University of
Western Ontario is not ‘anti-mast’, being a shareholder of
a telecoms infrastructure company. However, citing technical studies on the
effects of mast radiation on children, he urges that masts should be at least
500m / 1,640ft from schools.
Equally aware of the danger, the state
government in New Hampshire, USA, have moved
to keep masts the same distance from schools, playgrounds and care homes.
Approx radius of 500m/1,640ft from
proposed site
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Locations
within range: approx horiz distance (m/yds) from Google Maps
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The
Shepherds Building, Charecroft Way (nearest point, range from)
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6m
/ 7yds
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K
West Hotel and Spa, Richmond Way
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21m
/ 23yds
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One
World Montessori nursery school, Minford Gardens
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145m
/ 159yds
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Addison
Primary School, Addison Gardens
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300m
/ 328yds
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Addison
Youth Club, Redan Street
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401m
/ 438yds
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Jubilee
College, off Holland Park Avenue
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471m
/ 515yds
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Monkey
Puzzle Day Nursery School, Spring Vale Terrace
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477m
/ 521yds
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● This is important
as children's bodies are still
developing and they are more vulnerable to mast radiation effects. A Chief Medical
Officer has called for minimising their exposure.
(Mast radiation readings in the
borough already peak at well above safety limits – and are rising. Example
snapshots here, more
information on request.)
To approve the mast proposal would
effectively appear to compromise H&F Council’s statutory duty of care: "preventing
impairment to children's health or development". Time to remind the Council of its promise in its recent
Annual Report sent to Council
Tax payers: “Keeping residents safe
is our No 1 priority”.
● Not really needed: 5G is already available in the area for those who
want it.
5G masts are known to be energy
intensive. It would be mad to approve an unnecessary mast at a time when we
all need to keep energy consumption down. It could mean the difference
between having local power cuts and keeping homes and businesses going.
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