Boycott threat as 32ft mast gets nod
WORRIED parents are threatening to boycott a school after a mobile phone firm won an appeal to site a mast near it.
Mobile network giant Vodafone plans to build a 32ft mast off Crinnis Road, around 300 yards from Charlestown Primary School and even closer to its playing fields.
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Cllr John Oxenham at the school near to the proposed mobile phone mast. Picture by John Wood
Parents say they are worried about their children's' health and may even look at sending them other schools.
Dave Watson of Truro Road, St Austell, has three children at the school.
He said: "I am sure Vodafone will say there is no evidence that mobile phone masts can have an adverse effect on health.
"But that is because no one actually knows yet. In years to come there may well be evidence to suggest otherwise.
"Why are we then taking this risk with children's lives? I would seriously consider moving my children to another school should the mast go up."
Cornwall Council's planning committee voted against the mast twice but its decision was overturned on appeal.
School head Stephen Gibson, said the school was against the mast.
"We don't want it there and we are not happy about it."
Cornwall councillor for St Austell Bay, John Oxenham, also opposes the mast.
"Cornwall Council has a policy that no mobile phone mast should be built within 400 metres of a school and this application falls short of that.
"But once it has been approved by an inspector what can we do other than appeal to the good nature of Vodafone?"
A spokesman for Vodafone said: "The mast will improve the 3G coverage in the area.
"We have no immediate plans to build but are currently finalising our build programme for the next 12 months.
"We recognise that the local community has expressed some concern.
"All our base stations operate in accordance with stringent international guidelines and public exposures from our base stations will be many hundreds, if not thousands, of times below these guidelines."
6 Comments
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by max power, st austell
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 2:46PM
“Mobile phone companies seem to delight in siting masts near schools as some kind of perverse propaganda statement. As shown at Bishop Bronescombe school, their arrogance is boundless.
Not everyone parent or child uses a mobile as some tend to use a responsible safety first attitude towards their kids and leave the gung ho experimentation to the rest.”
by Dave Joslin, St Austell
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 2:38PM
“What on earth are the parents of junior school children doing giving them a mobile phone? They say it's so they know where they are but does it? The fact that they are mobile means they are just as likely to be in town having bunked off as at school. It's high time parents started using the word "no" when pestered for things "all the other kids have".”
by Paul, Truro
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 10:18AM
“I would like to ask these parents a few questions 'do you or you children own mobiles? Do you get annoyed with low mobile signals? Do you use a microwave oven? Do you use a wireless router? Do you feed your kids junk food? Do you speed with your children in the car? If offered a lot of money would you put up a mast?
lets all your honor”
by Gary, Saltash
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 10:03AM
“As an engineer the radio waves wrangle have always fascinated me. The objectors normally lack scientific dexterity and act devoid of pragmatic evidence supporting their disagreement. The danger of exposure to radiation at the mhz used by these masts from a few hundred feet away is the same as watching a Television screen from a few feets or standing along side a microwave as it heats your soup.
Saying all these one has to accept that the build of pulsing radio waves since the 70's does need further investigation. The essence of being human is just an electrical signal. Perhaps the maxim of better safe than sorry is one we should follow rather than falsely accepting science has the answer as they clearly do not, Those claiming people who own mobile phones should not complain are by default accepting these is a problem thus loosing the argument, these devices are either safe or not, independent testing is required not the biased stuff previously carried out. I would remove my children if given the option based on my better safe than sorry theory, the risk/reward ratio is not support taking a risk when I fail to see the personal benefit it would bring me as I am not a vodaphone customer”
by Sarah, St Austell
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 9:35AM
“Oh please, so I guess these same parents don't own or ever use mobile telephones and that none of their children own them either - get a grip! This is Nimbyism at its worse: it's ok to own and use mobiles (suggestions have been made that you can be exposed just by holding them to your ear) but it's wrong to have a mast sighted near the school because they may be in danger! Good luck in finding another school to send your little darlings to LOL”