Mother launches protest against mobile mast

Site on the Swan pub felt to be too close to Teddies Nursery

A concerned local parent has decided to take on a major telecommunications company over the siting of a mobile mast near her child's nursery.

Catrin Thomas has a 2 year old at Teddies Nursery, Evershed Walk, and also lives in the area. It is a
relatively large nursery looking after babies to children up to four years old.

She became seriously concerned when she recently found out that the Swan pub, immediately opposite the nursery, has a 3G phone mast on its roof - erected by Three. The company is part of Hong Kong based conglomerate Hutchison.

She said, " I have contacted the nursery and will be contacting Ealing Borough Council, my local councillors and my MP to protest at Three being allowed to erect this mast site so close to young children. I would like to see this site moved away from a residential neighbourhood and the nursery as I have concerns about the health risks to young children."

Other residents of the area are also concerned that the mast has been sited in the area with no apparent attempt to consult with local residents.

At present Government planning guidelines do not allow the removal of mobile masts on health grounds. They argue that there is no proven link between masts and rises in illness amongst people living in the area. The Conservative party recently announced a new policy that would give local residents and councillors greater powers to say no to masts being sited in their area but in the meantime there is little that residents can do. Some have suggested protests on the High Road against mobile phone shops selling handsets that use networks that site masts in unwelcome locations.

November 4, 2004