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Resident barricade halts phone mast
12:36pm Sunday 27th January 2008
Comments (32)Construction of a phone mast in Coulsdon has been halted after more than 100 angry protesters barricaded the site.
Residents and parents blocked two trucks and two cranes from accessing the proposed mast site on Sandown Road this morning in a bid to stop the transmitter being fixed to a building opposite Chipstead Valley Primary School.
The protesters, under the banner of the Radio Action group, said their were already 15 mobile masts in less than one square mile of the school.
A Radio Action spokesman said the 10 workmen remained in Sandown Road for more than two hours before turning back after discussions with residents.
He said the group was concerned about the health effects of mobile mast transmissions, particularly on children.
It is believed phone company T Mobile want to fix the mast to the first floor of the building in Sandown Road.
Your Say YourCroydon Guardian
Dennis Cannon, North West England says...
1:58pm Sun 27 Jan 08
I simply ask Mike to have an open mind and read the scientific evidence on the Mast Sanity site. Studies by truly independant scientists rather than the lackeys sponsored by the government and phone operators.
This is a world wide campaign and you must ask why are so many peaople concerned ?
Incidebtally I , like many others, do NOT have a mobile phone and I object to being polluted by microwaves caused by satisfying the people that do.
Dennis
Henrik Eiriksson, Copenhagen, Denmark says...
2:01pm Sun 27 Jan 08
I don't think many object to the concept of mobile communication - but the problem lies with the fact that the technology, in it's current implementation, was never tested for health impacts prior to marketing.
Sandi, West Sussex says...
2:45pm Sun 27 Jan 08
When will there be consideration for the more vulnerable children, sick, elderly and all animal life with the continuing roll out of technologies using pulsed microwave radiation i.e. TETRA and handsets, mobile phones and masts, cordless phones, wifi, microwave ovens and all wireless gadgets to include baby alarms?
Why was Sir Williams advice for a precautionary approach totally ignored?
When will parents, family members, animal lovers, animal societies etc be given clear information that will enable them to make informed decisions about these new technologies using pulsed microwave radiation?
When will the growing numbers of electrosensitive (ES) people, who suffer so badly now, be treated in a more humane and fair way?
When will medical staff and all relevant official departments be made aware of the effects of pulsed microwave radiation, documented as radiation sickness many decades ago?
Please do not tell us there is no evidence of harmful effects as there is more than enough peer reviewed research available.
Please do not offer us the types of research which have already been undertaken in the UK that have no chance of presenting valid, clear and accurate representation of good scientific study.
Please do not insult our intelligence and sincere concern
I write as an EHS person who has talked to hundreds of ES/EHS people over the past
three years or so.
To privately or publicly declare yourself to be ES/EHS while governmental advisors and bodies deny its existence is a very hard road to walk for most. They are ignored, and can be abused and ridiculed by authority, to include health care and essential services. Family, friends, community and media can also be unbelieving, critical and/or abusive and because of the governmental stance on this issue. Therefore the circa 500 declared ES/EHS are the tip of the iceberg and I speak to many who wont declare.
Most electrosensitive people are totally aware of what is going on with these technologies.
They have had to prove to themselves by trial, error and research that this is not all in the mind or some other illness or condition. With a few it has taken 8 to 10 years of ill health & misdiagnosis.
Most ES/EHS know that they will heal if they can remove themselves from the technologies or the technologies can be kept away from them. Some ES/EHS watch and observe local
non-sensitive people/ animal/plant life and see clearly what is happening.
THAT THEY CAN AND DO HEAL IS CLEAR PROOF THAT THEY ARE TRULY ES/EHS
Many of them have proved this for themselves.
If the ES/EHS have discovered this proof, why cant this be a basis for meaningful research rather than the much criticised Essex Study which many ES/EHS would not take part it because they knew it would prove nothing?
Why cant our children be monitored in schools where wifi and mobile phone masts
are installed?
Why cant their parents be made aware of the potential dangers to their children at home or in the community?
Why cant cancer clusters and ill-health around mast clusters be monitored and researched properly and in situ?
I have been informed by the Health Protection Agency that it is the role of local Primary Care Trusts to monitor. How can they monitor effectively with no knowledge of the known biological effects of pulsed microwave information?
This letter has been written because the situation in the UK is becoming very dangerous. Some ES/EHS people are suffering terribly, especially around airports, flight paths, MOD and US establishments, TV transmitters, radar, TETRA, upgraded 3G and wifi.
It goes without saying that more non-sensitive people are also unwell/ill and that a new breed of wifi sensitised people is emerging. Do we expect 3.5G sensitives soon? Time will tell.
How are our children coping? Can they concentrate at school with the mobile phone masts, TETRA and wifi close to them? Are they any better off at home?
Dave W, Croydon says...
4:59pm Sun 27 Jan 08
Sandown Road?
South Norwood?
Isn't something wrong with the geography in this article?
British Bulldog, croydon says...
7:28pm Sun 27 Jan 08
Kevin Browning, Coulsdon says...
10:40pm Sun 27 Jan 08
Owners of mobile phones have a choice of when and how often to use them.
The 450 children attending this primary and middle school do not have a choice over the installation of these three masts, 60 yards from their classrooms.
They, nor the school, were even told about it.
Neither were the residents living ten feet away!
As for the health issues, even T-Mobile's OWN RESEARCH (ECOLOG Institute in Hanover Report 2000) shows that there is a substantial risk, but of course they buried this research in favour of more sympathetic research commissioned hastily afterwards, but fortunately it was leaked, and can be found on the internet.
Sir William Stewart was commissioned by the UK government to research potential effects (Stewart Report, May 2000), yet have ignored all his advice when he found a link between masts and illnesses - specifically in placing masts near schools.
The government and the phone companies tell us it's all safe (in spite of knowing it probably isn't)
But they used to say that about tobacco, thalidomide, nuclear power, lead paint, asbestos... etc.
Who do you really trust?
The phone companies making the money, the Government taking the money ... or the scientists trying to warn us?
If in doubt - GET IT OUT.
www.radioaction.co.u
k
Treehugger, The new forest says...
1:05am Mon 28 Jan 08
Treehugger's Mum, The New Forest says...
1:52am Mon 28 Jan 08
J.E., Bristol says...
8:00am Mon 28 Jan 08
quote'Given the results of the present epidemiological studies, it can be concluded that electromagnetic fields with frequencies in the mobile telecommunications range do play a role in the development of cancer. This is particularly notable for tumours of the central nervous system.'
quote
The idea that unelected bodies (the mobile phone companies) have a right to expose people to the very real harm caused by phone mast electro magnetic radiation, amounts to enrolling the population in a giant biological experiment without their consent. Considering that children, the most vulnerable of all, are included in this experiment, it is shameful that their interests are disregarded so cynically in the pursuit of profit.
ric, kingston says...
9:33am Mon 28 Jan 08
bit of radiation will do them good. make them stronger, build their immune system.
barry, croydon says...
9:41am Mon 28 Jan 08
bit of radiation will do them goodIndeed. Ill informed people still moan about Chernobyl, but you never hear the locals complaining about two-headed pigs or chickens with five legs. Everyone gets a drumstick and there's plenty of rashers for breakfast. The Coulsdon Nimbys will soon come around.
Catherine Botting, York says...
11:31am Mon 28 Jan 08
barry wrote:Barry,As someone who was actually in the area affected by Chernobyl just two months ago - I can tell you that they don't complain about two-headed pigs- they complain about deformed children, soaring cancer rates and being unable to eat anything grown in the ground because its so poisoned with radiation. Your flippancy is disgusting.
bit of radiation will do them goodIndeed. Ill informed people still moan about Chernobyl, but you never hear the locals complaining about two-headed pigs or chickens with five legs. Everyone gets a drumstick and there's plenty of rashers for breakfast. The Coulsdon Nimbys will soon come around.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to protect your children. Good for you people of Coulsdon, keep fighting.
radioaction.co.uk, Coulsdon says...
11:45am Mon 28 Jan 08
The owners of the first floor office, Oakdene Homes, use it only to store archive paperwork and have no staff working there as their offices are in Reigate.
One of the workmen who was supposed to be building the mast on Sunday had a similar problem at his daughters school - and the mast was taken down.
So yes, you could say it is a case of "not in my back yard" as the people profiting from the masts seem happy enough to have the things in our back yard - but not theirs.
ric, kingston says...
11:47am Mon 28 Jan 08
no even in the same ball park.
90% of people standing outside protesting will have a mobile phone and subject themselves to exactly the same 'microwaves' sent to the mask. every minute of the day. unlike the 6 hours a kid is at school.
this country is driven on fear and panic.
cousldon Resident, coulsdon says...
12:33pm Mon 28 Jan 08
You mention that a child is only at the school for 6 hours a day, but 6 hours a day, 5 days a week for 7-8 years of its life is alot longer don't you think?
Also it is not only 6 hours a day, what about the residents children who this will effect for 24 hours a day for the rest of their life?
You need to remember how many women out there give up smoking while they are pregnant or how many of you wouldnt smoke around a child as a way of protecting them from secondary cancer!
All the residents of Coulsdon are trying to do is protect their children and others by taking this safety measure and protesting against the masts.
Resident, coulsdon says...
12:34pm Mon 28 Jan 08
You mention that a child is only at the school for 6 hours a day, but 6 hours a day, 5 days a week for 7-8 years of its life is alot longer don't you think?
Also it is not only 6 hours a day, what about the residents children who this will effect for 24 hours a day for the rest of their life?
You need to remember how many women out there give up smoking while they are pregnant or how many of you wouldnt smoke around a child as a way of protecting them from secondary cancer!
All the residents of Coulsdon are trying to do is protect their children and others by taking this safety measure and protesting against the masts.
Nic, Coulsdon says...
12:36pm Mon 28 Jan 08
You mention that a child is only at the school for 6 hours a day, but 6 hours a day, 5 days a week for 7-8 years of its life is alot longer don't you think?
Also it is not only 6 hours a day, what about the residents children who this will effect for 24 hours a day for the rest of their life?
You need to remember how many women out there give up smoking while they are pregnant or how many of you wouldnt smoke around a child as a way of protecting them from secondary cancer!
All the residents of Coulsdon are trying to do is protect their children and others by taking this safety measure and protesting against the masts.
ric, kingston says...
12:57pm Mon 28 Jan 08
would you then be happy?
radioaction, Coulsdon says...
4:03pm Mon 28 Jan 08
For starters, your comparison with mobile phone signal strength and mast strength is woefully inaccurate.
A mobile phole will output 4 watts of power, a mast will output 40 watts of power, and there are three of them we are campaigning against.
Rest assured those involved in this protest are not luddites - there are radio Ham experts, microwave uplink specialists and radio engineers who agree with our concerns.
Secondly, these masts were to be erected without asking the school, without asking the local people.
Thirdly, there are serious issues of safety proven and addressed in European law and in the Maastricht treaty.
Do you really think a school is the best place to be within the masts most intensive beam?
We are not against phone masts!
We are against them being so close to schools, and for operators sticking them up wherever they like without asking locals first.
How would you feel if one were put up 20 yards from your house without your consent?
Get a grip Ric, the protestors just want these masts in sensible places, not to get rid of them altogether.
Besides - the signal in this area is perfect. This mast is not needed.
You mention that "this country is driven on fear and panic" - well if the government is ignoring its own health and safety recommendations in favour of getting paid billions by phone companies, is it surprising?
Do you really trust the government to tell the truth?
If so you probably still believe Iraq had chemical weapons ready to launch in 45 minutes...
willie, tollers says...
5:03pm Mon 28 Jan 08
## sor~ terri@ble SIGNAL@:{{}~+_
Angie P, Wimbledon says...
5:18pm Mon 28 Jan 08
A few years ago, we agreed to have a phone mast installed on our vegetable farm, and we were paid a yearly fee by the phone company. As it was a free-standing object, we had to apply for planning permission. A notice was put up and nobody objected.
Even though this mast in Coulsdon is apparently going to be attached to a pre-existing property (as opposed to free-standing), shouldn't it still be subject to the same planning permission regulations? Or do the local council view it as just a large TV aerial?
radioaction, Coulsdon says...
5:53pm Mon 28 Jan 08
The masts (three of the) are not subject to the same planning laws as your free standing mast as they do not exceed 15 metres in height.
Instead they are subject to "prior approval", whereby the council are notified by the phone companies and have 56 days to reject the application.
In hundreds of cases, notice of rejection is given ONE DAY after the 56 day period, which is too late, by default the permission has been granted regardless.
You might ask why the council keep posting rejections one day late.
I rather suspect the phone companies (who give £15billion to the government a year in taxes) might be able to persuade these councillors to drag their feet somehow, though I cannot think how hugely rich telecoms companies could possibly influence planning decisions, can you?
ric, kingston says...
1:48pm Tue 29 Jan 08
not at one point did i say i believed the government though. we all know they are crooks and you know someone like vodafone has stuck a large amount of cash their way to give them the ok.
but personally, i would take the cash as well.
Bob, Cheam says...
1:59pm Tue 29 Jan 08
michelle, coulsdon says...
8:10pm Tue 29 Jan 08
For all those people that do not live in coulsdon but agree that a potest is right then thanks for the support.x
Also there are some very sad people on here, I dont really no the effects that this can cause, there was not mobile phones in our gran parents day, and they managed
quote
Radioaction, Coulsdon says...
12:51am Wed 30 Jan 08
Please contact us :
radioaction@lycos.co
m
We will be happy to supply you with all the relevant info.
radioaction, Coulsdon says...
1:04am Wed 30 Jan 08
LOL ... admire your honesty in admitting you would take the cash... though there would always be someone else who would think that was out of order!
To clarify - the masts aren't going up IN the school, but they are 60 yards away, on a road where most of the kids walk down to get to school.
I'd like to think this was an oversight, and that the council didn't realise how close the school was being that this site straddles the boundary between Croydon and Reigate & Banstead.
At least, I hope that is the case.
Nobody wants to have to protest, barricade roads, set up websites and leaflet hundreds of houses.
But when it comes to protecting our kids, if they want a war they've got one!
Even if the risk of illness is a small one, it's still enough to make the billions of pounds irrelevant.
It is hoped that T-Mobile will recognise the strength of feeling and come to an agreement that suits everyone.
That way, everybody wins, we can all go back to our lives and actually it would be a lovely thing for T-Mobile to recognise that their core market actually consists of concerned parents and their kids!
Radioaction, Coulsdon says...
1:09am Wed 30 Jan 08
Very funny!
Joan, says...
3:01pm Wed 30 Jan 08
Nobody wants to have to protest, barricade roads, set up websites and leaflet hundreds of houses.Good for you , be nice if people took the same attitude about immigrant crime as well.
But when it comes to protecting our kids, if they want a war they've got one.
radioaction, Coulsdon says...
1:29pm Fri 1 Feb 08
All the best.
mrs w, Coulsdon says...
2:50pm Fri 1 Feb 08
As Coulsdon is surrounded by masts belonging to various phone companies, wouldn't it make more sense to "double-up" and put more than one company's mast on the same site???
Yes I do own a mobile phone, but it is switched off 95% of the time, and my child will not have a phone of her own while she is at primary school. Why would I want to send her to school where she will be bombarded by radiation all day, when I do my best to protect her from it at home. She is the most precious thing I have and I resent the comments calling me a hypocrite for protesting about the location of the masts.
Go away: Protesters in Sandown Road
One of the crane trucks leaves the site
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mike, south norwood says...
1:31pm Sun 27 Jan 08
another case of not in my back yard