Mast opposition grows

I have had copies of a couple of letters and emails plus comments from people opposing the mast proposed by ORange for Ash Lane in Randwick - the letters include one from a 6 year old who wrote apparently of his own initiative to me saying "I am furious about the mast. It is dangerous to me and my family."

Cartoon: Local Scribbler Russell gives his take on the mast

Here is one of the letters printed by permission here:

Dear Sir,

Re: Proposed mobile phone mast at Ash Lane, Randwick, Gloucestershire. Ref. GL0136.

We are writing in response to the articles in this weeks Randwick Runner, regarding the proposal by Orange to install a mast adjacent to Ash Lane.

We are devastated to learn of the plans and wish to voice out complete opposition to the proposal.

Our family which includes children of 4 and 6yrs, live in the village. We are extremely concerned about the effect which such base stations and electrical installations have on human health, young children in particular.

Numerous scientific studies suggest such base stations are responsible for many adverse effects including:

-Severe and persistent headache
- Depressive illness
- Loss of short term memory
- Downs Syndrome in neonatal exposures
- Myeloid Leukaemia’s in adults
-Increased incidence of lymphoma and solid tumour formation if the brain.

Major studies reporting these findings can be found at www.cogreslab.co.uk/base_stations.asp

By our reckoning, the proposed site is approx. 600m from Randwick Primary School and approx 500m from Cashes Green Primary School. These are well within the 750m ‘fallout’ zone of highest electromagnetic radiation from such masts.

Studies indicate that children under 11 yrs are at greatest risk of developing adverse effects because of the thinness of the bone in their skulls. This mast would potentially put at greater of ill health, all 218 pupils in addition to the even younger village children who live here.

While we appreciate that these health effects are rarely given consideration in planning matters, can we urge you to please raise them as a concern, since surely, the more people that do, the greater the chance that the ‘powers that be’ will actually sit up and act responsibly.

From a planning point of view, the suggested location is within the Cotswolds AONB boundary, and the AONB Partnerships policies and guidance state:

‘Telecommunications apparatus should be placed on existing masts where possible’

There are at least 3 masts in this area that we can think of; Cashes Green, Bird in Hand and near the junction with Beacon Lane to Hares field. Also ‘Where new masts are unavoidable, they should be placed so that they do not adversely affect the views across, to and from the prominent skylines and thus damage the sense of remoteness and open vistas. Masts …. should use existing masts/structures where possible’

It also borders a Conservation Area where visual consideration should be given to reduce the visual impact upon it.

We are also extremely concerned about road safety issues at the junction of Ash Lane with the road from Cashes Green through Randwick. The road at the point is on a blind brow and becomes very narrow. We are concerned that if this proposal goes ahead, it will increase the volume and type of traffic entering and exiting the village and Ash Lane, at this blind and dangerous section of road.

There will be increased traffic due to the construction and later, ongoing servicing and maintenance of the installation. The traffic will invariably consist of larger vans and lorries which are totally unsuitable for such a narrow lane and junction.

Only last year, our 4 and 6 year old children suffered a near miss when a vehicle travelling up the hill, had to swerve to avoid a vehicle exiting Ash Lane, narrowly missing us as we walked along the road at this point.

Not only does the proposal fall within the Cotswolds AONB, but it is also in close proximity to and would be visible from, the Cotswolds Way National Trail. This Trail has been declared by the Secretary of State because of its outstanding Natural Beauty and is one of only 12 such routes in the Country.

Should such a visibly intrusive structure be encouraged near such a nationally important recreational site? Many walkers enter and also exit the Trail at this point and walk down Ash Lane to stay at various B&B’s within the Village. Again there is increased risk of conflict with telephone mast associated traffic. We urge you to please strongly oppose this proposal by Orange and encourage all villagers and users of the village to do the same for the sakes of conserving the Natural Beauty of this area as well as out physical and mental health.

To this end we will lend our total support to any efforts to ensure that this proposal does not go ahead.

Yours faithfully, Mr. Mrs Julie and Julian Bendle