MEP Intervenes in Crowborough Phone Mast Row
04 October 2004
Sussex Euro-MP Caroline Lucas has called on Wealden Council to back two Crowborough cancer victims in their campaign to have a mobile 'phone mast removed from a site near residential properties, a special needs school andthe town's hospital.
Dr Lucas, Green Party MEP for South-East England and a member of the European Parliament's Environment Committee, said the mast, at 'ATS Euromaster' in Church Road, is sited "highly inappropriately".
"Research conducted on behalf of the European Parliament has demonstrated that safety guidelines governing the exposure of the public to radiation from mobile 'phone base stations are inadequate," said Dr Lucas.
"In the face of real health risks we should adopt the precautionary principle and remove masts from sites - such as Church Road - which are close to built-up residential areas - and, in this case, a special needs school and Crowborough Hospital."
Dr Lucas decided to intervene in the Church Road case after she was moved by the plight of two Crowborough residents who live just metres from the mast and have both had to undergo treatment for breast cancer.
The owners of ATS Euromaster have told campaigners they now plan to terminate all Vodafone's licences to site masts at any of their UK premises - but have themselves been told Vodafone will use the law to contest thedecision.
"ATS Euromaster are to be applauded for their efforts to remove the mast," added Dr Lucas, "but Wealden District Council has an obligation to do more to pursue its removal."
"The European Parliamentary research makes clear the precautionary principle should apply - and that means taking down masts nears schools, hospitals andresidential areas. This site fails all three tests."
"Planning laws relating to mobile 'phone masts are totally inadequate and there's nothing Wealden Council could have done to prevent this mast being erected - even if it had been minded to do so. But now it must do everything it can to support the local residents and business which are seeking itsremoval."
Notes
-Dr Lucas' comments were made in a letter to Wealden Council's planningchief Ian Kay. Copies available on request.
-The European Research cited above refers to a report by Warwick UniversityProfessor Gerard Hyland commissioned by Dr Lucas on behalf of the EuropeanParliament's research unit. Further details and copies of report availableon request.
