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The risks associated
with the expanding number of mobile phone masts in Leigh need careful
consideration. The situation is now far worse with the arrival of
3G technology. Unlike basic phone and text messaging, the benefits
coming from the latest mobile phone technologies are marginal and
faddish. Mobile phone companies have invested £millions in
R&D and in licenses and to recoup this investment they are having
to push more gimmicks and "mobile toys". However, the
base stations needed to operate these new mobile phone features
are increasingly intrusive; 3G base stations are getting ever more
powerful and, as each mast covers a smaller area, are becoming more
geographically concentrated, especially in urban areas like Leigh.
The health risks
to people living and working close to these base stations is still
unresolved. The government-sponsored Stewart inquiry recommended
"a precautionary approach to the use of mobile phones and base
stations until more research findings become available".
- It is now vitally
important that a moritorium on new base stations be applied
until this research is completed.
- Our local MP,
Mr David Amess, has been fighting hard to bring in legislation
that will put the onus on the operators to prove that there
is no health risk
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this page: |
Mobile
Phone Masts in Leigh Official
concerns How
they hide them Mast
Sanity Other
useful organisations |
| Mobile
Phone Masts - where they are |
| The
number of mobile phone base stations located in Leigh
is increasing year-on-year. |
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The
highest concentration of these is above the Post Office
on Rectory Grove. Other locations around Leigh are:
- The
Old Vienna, Tudor Gardens/Blenheim Chase
- The
fire station, Mountdale Gardens/Blenheim Chase
- junction
Elm Road/Victoria Drive
- St
Clement's Court, Broadway West
- junction
Cottesmore Gardens/London Road
- Highlands
Shopping Arcade, London Road
- junction
Gordon Road/London Road
- junction
Highlands Boulevard/Sutherland Boulevard
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To identify
base station locations visit:
www.sitefinder.radio.gov.uk
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| Official
concerns |
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The government
view:
A group of independent experts led by Sir William Stewart
has investigated
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possible
health effects posed by mobile phone technology including
base stations, on behalf of the Government.The group
looked at recent research, took evidence from scientists,
and listened to the views of the public at open meetings
around the UK. Their report was published in May 2000.
Their conclusion was that: “The
balance of evidence indicates that there is no general
risk to the health of people living near base stations,
on the basis that exposures are expected to be small
fractions of guidelines”. Gaps
in scientific knowledge led the Stewart Group to recommend
a precautionary approach to the use of mobile phones
and base stations until more research findings become
available. They added that in some cases people’s
well-being may be adversely affected by insensitive
siting of base stations.
www.dh.gov.uk
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| How
they hide them |
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In order
be make the masts less intrusive, more invisible and
therefore perhaps less intimidating to local people,
the operating compandies are camoflaging their masts
in all sorts of ingenious ways.
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An article
on the BBC webside illustrates the point
www.bbc.co.uk
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| Mast
Sanity |
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A national
organisation opposing the insensitive siting of mobile
phone and Tetra masts in the UK.
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The organisation
offers advice and support to local campaigns and aim
to provide that information "one stop shop"
that all new mast campaigners need.
www.mastsanity.org
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| Other
useful organisations |
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Powerwatch
- An organisation which hires out monitoring equipment.
Also links to sites dealing with the health risks from
mobile phone masts. www.powerwatch.org.uk
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Planning
Sanity - provides a wide range of useful
information, legal cases, contacts,etc
www.planningsanity.co.uk
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| Other
points |
- masts
under 15m do not need planning permission
- the Council
should have deatils of allplanned mast locations.
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