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Parents' Anger at Mast Bid
CONCERNED parents have threatened to pull their children out of Clare Primary School if plans to put up a mobile phone mast are allowed.
Fears over the health implications of the proposed 46ft mobile phone mast being sited within 250 metres have led many parents at the 90-pupil school to unite in opposition.
Feelings are running so high that several have said if the plan is approved they will look for alternative schools.
And Care Town Council has organised a public meeting so that residents can voice their opinions. It is due to take place at Clare Town Hall on Friday February 13, at 7pm.
Science graduate Angela Harding, 30, whose four-year-old son is a pupil at the primary school, said: “Evidence has shown that a one-year-old would absorb double the amount of radioactivity that an adult would and a five-year-old approximately 60%.”
“If the mast application is accepted I would be forced to remove my son from the primary school, as I feel this is the only way to protect my child. I’m sure I would be not alone in this decision.”
She cited the May 2000 findings of the Government’s research into the health effects of mobile phone masts, the Stewart Report. It stated that as there were gaps in scientific knowledge about the health effects of mobile phone masts a “precautionary approach” should be taken.
Chris Petts 41, mother of two boys at the school aged four and seven, is also leading calls for the application to be thrown out. She said: “The campaign to stop this mast 250 metres from the school is now in full swing. Parents are absolutely determined to fight this application through the planning process and if necessary beyond.”
“Clare is a successful community and the school is an integral part of it - there are a number of parents who have said they will remove their children from the school if the mast goes ahead.”
The proposal from mobile phone giant Orange for the mast at Church Farm will be considered by St Edmundsbury planners in February.
A spokesperson for Orange’s agent CR Barnes, said: “The mast will be a 15-metre monopole in the corner of a field 250 yards from the school boundary and will be surrounded by indigenous landscaping.”
Orange has offered Michael Jacobs, owner of the Church Farm site £5,000 for each disc on the mast. He said: “The company has offered me £5,000 for every disc it puts up and I think there will be two. I have been assured the mast poses no danger to health, but if someone proved to me there was a danger I would not want it here either.”
Why not have your say…. come to the meeting at Clare Town Hall on Friday 13 February at 7pm.
Story By: Will Wright
Date : 27-01-2004
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