Bradford & District | Archive | 2005 | October | 29
From the archive, first published Saturday 29th Oct 2005.
Two MPs want tighter controls over the planning process for mobile phone masts as plans for 34 new ones for the district were revealed.
They want all mast sites made public before they are built to give people living nearby a chance to object.
Shipley MP Philip Davies has obtained a full list of where more than 120 masts are already sited. Residents can see how many masts are located near homes, schools and even hospitals. The list, published on Page 4, shows where every mast belonging to 3 Mobile, Vodafone and Orange is in the Bradford district, and where companies hope to put them in the future.
It shows the companies have located them at schools, sports clubs and shops, and one on Bradford Royal Infirmary.
MPs have warned more will be built to cope with the rise in the number of phones using `3G' technology. Experts suggest the new phones will need 130,000 new masts across the UK.
The new figures will infuriate campaigners who claim radio waves emitted by masts cause headaches, sleeplessness and can lead to life-threatening illness.
Now MPs are urging the Government to set safeguards to cut the risks of exposure to "excessive radiation", especially for children and the elderly.
Tory MP Mr Davies said: "It would be more sensible to get an early look at where masts are going to be located so we can have a discussion."
And Paul Truswell, Labour MP for Pudsey, has backed a Parliamentary campaign to close loopholes which allow firms to erect some smaller masts without needing full planning permission.
Currently, any mast under 15 metres can be installed without a planning hearing. They are rubber-stamped as "permitted development".
Experts say there is no proven risk but the Health Protection Agency has called for children to only use mobiles when necessary.
© Newsquest Media Group 2008