Update on Randwick mast and Wi-Fi

I understand that the process for telecom masts under 15 m is that the company has to submit a prior notification. If the Council doesn't respond, or request a planning application within 28 days, then the mast has deemed consent. The companies are pretty hot on the 28 day rule however many Councils are not.

Cartoon: a repeat of this cartoon from local scribbler Russ

I spoke with Planning at Stroud District Council today and they have still not received an application for this mast - click on 'Masts' label below for background info - in my opinion this mast needs looking at properly as I consider this site is visually intrusive - indeed you will probably be able to see it from Ebley Mill and indeed from many places in the area.

Anyway Randwick Parish Council will be alerted if an application comes in - there does not appear to be a way for other Parishes to be alerted. Randwick will hopefully let us know of any developments. I will raise the issue of alerts for other Parishes as a separate issue with Planning in the hope that they might be able to introduce such a scheme. Planning have been very good in this area of information and are one of the lead Councils in making information available to the public.

Wi-Fi - unregulated and dangerous?

All the talk in previous blog entries of possible health risks has a parallel with Wi-Fi - again an issue I've covered before - but came across this good article:
http://www.theecologist.org/archive_detail.asp?content_id=1179

I think there are enough concerns for us to be more cautious about it's use - see Green party letter here. Basically Wi-Fi appeared on our shelves without having to undergo any tests or safety checks whatsoever. In May 2007 folk may remember that the BBC’s Panorama programme investigated the signal strengths used by Wi-Fi equipment. They measured the intensity of microwaves 150 metres away from a mobile phone transmitter mast, and half a metre away from a laptop computer – realistic distances at which everyday exposure might occur. They found that the radiation from the Wi-Fi-enabled laptop was at least as high, if not higher, than that measured in the main beam of the mast!!! Some Governments now give warnings about Wi-Fi use - ours does not.