council takes up plea to move mast
Thursday, 5th September 2002.
A COUNCIL is to call for a telecommunications mast at Haverhill to be moved, following complaints from neighbours living close by that it has made them ill.
St Edmundsbury Borough Council has agreed to contact British Telecom to see if there is a possibility of the mast near Haverhill Rugby Club being moved and if so where it could be sited.
The move comes on the back of a campaign against the mast, supported by MP Richard Spring who said it should never have been put up so close to three schools, a playground and a large residential area.
He was contacted by Mark Wheal, 44, of Conway Close, who organised a petition earlier this year protesting about the mast.
Mr Wheal has suffered epileptic fits in the past year and is currently unable to work because of his condition, with several of his neighbours also becoming unwell.
He believes the illness is due to the mast, which appeared overnight close to his home, without any consultation.
Coun Ray Nowak, leader of the council, stressed there was no evidence of health issues arising from such masts but accepted this was not people's perception.
"I share Richard Spring's concern," he said.
"There have been quite a lot of cases of people having effects from masts that were not even switched on, so it might be a matter of mind over matter. However, that is no consolation if it is bringing people to a health risk position.
"We do take it seriously if people are concerned that much and we need to try and address it.
"As a policy we try, where planning permission is required, to make sure these are not placed in positions close to schools and built up environments."
Mr Wheal welcomed news of the action by the council.
"It is brilliant that something is actually being done about it. It should never have been put there in the first place," he said.
St Edmundsbury Borough Council has agreed to contact British Telecom to see if there is a possibility of the mast near Haverhill Rugby Club being moved and if so where it could be sited.
The move comes on the back of a campaign against the mast, supported by MP Richard Spring who said it should never have been put up so close to three schools, a playground and a large residential area.
He was contacted by Mark Wheal, 44, of Conway Close, who organised a petition earlier this year protesting about the mast.
Mr Wheal has suffered epileptic fits in the past year and is currently unable to work because of his condition, with several of his neighbours also becoming unwell.
He believes the illness is due to the mast, which appeared overnight close to his home, without any consultation.
Coun Ray Nowak, leader of the council, stressed there was no evidence of health issues arising from such masts but accepted this was not people's perception.
"I share Richard Spring's concern," he said.
"There have been quite a lot of cases of people having effects from masts that were not even switched on, so it might be a matter of mind over matter. However, that is no consolation if it is bringing people to a health risk position.
"We do take it seriously if people are concerned that much and we need to try and address it.
"As a policy we try, where planning permission is required, to make sure these are not placed in positions close to schools and built up environments."
Mr Wheal welcomed news of the action by the council.
"It is brilliant that something is actually being done about it. It should never have been put there in the first place," he said.
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