Sponsored by
Mum fights mobile mast just yards from home
Health risks are unknown, she says
A mother has vowed to fight plans to erect a 15-metre mobile phone mast which operator O2 wants just yards from her home.
Linda Little, a teaching assistant of Clovelly Way, Bedford, received notification last week outlining O2's plans for a mast in Polhill Avenue.
The letter stated she had two weeks in which to lodge any objections, so Mrs Little began canvassing opposition from her neighbours and the three schools in the road.
She said: "I do not want this mast outside my children's bedrooms because we do not know what the health risks are with these masts.
"O2's letter puts in points to try to reassure us, including one from the World Health Organisation (WHO) saying there is no proof of any health effects.
"But the WHO also says there are gaps in scientists' knowledge about masts, and it is commonly believed that children are the most vulnerable of all.
"If I was looking from my kitchen window I would have to crane my neck to see the top of the mast, that is how close it would be.
"Surely there are places further away from the schools and homes which could be used."
Mrs Little has three children, 14-year-old Sam and 11-year-old twins Amy and Jack.
She cited John Rigby Lower School, Goldington Middle, Newnham Middle School and De Montfort University's Polhill campus as all in close proximity to the mooted mast site.
Coun David Sawyer (Lib Dem, De Parys) echoed her concerns.
He said: "The council's hands are quite tied on these applications. The Government gives mobile phone providers the benefit of the doubt because there is no conclusive evidence that these masts are unsafe. But by the same token there is no conclusive evidence that they are safe either.
"To be fair to O2, this is an example, for once, of a firm letting local residents and stakeholders comment before they make the application."
James Stephenson, a spokesman for O2, said: "We are getting bigger and bigger in this part of the country, and with the amount of new homes planned there will be more and more customers. That is why we are looking to expand.
"There has been nothing brought to our attention saying that harmful emissions are produced by base stations. We do not consider it to be a health risk at all."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Bedford
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
