The Mobile Phone Mast Debate

Lickszz · 23-03-2003, 20:44

Has anyone on got one near them and how do they feel about it? There seems to be more and more upraor everytime one of these things goes up and if the information about them is correct rightly so but, some people think the best way to stop these things is to protest by not using or buying mobile phones, do you think this would work? does anyonr have any better solutions?

Mo · 23-03-2003, 21:05

Yes I have noticed more and more of these things appearing and they are really ugly. I personally can't believe that people can shout off about wind turbines ruining the landscape when phone masts are mushrooming up all over the shop. I do use a mobile phone though and wouldn't be without it so some compromise needs to be made. For a start would we need so many if more mast sharing was done? Couldn't something be done to make them blend in more with the environment? I really do think each one should have to apply for planning permission. At the moment I think that permission is needed only if the mast exceeds a certain height. As for living near to them well I don't think that anybody should have to until more research is done into the possible harmful effects.

RPG · 23-03-2003, 21:49

4 are on my old school, and to be honest, it didnt bother me at all, being a budding physist i knew the dangers and so did the school.

you only really see a third of all the masts, as the rest of them are hidden in things like fake chimneys or church spires

Sidla · 24-03-2003, 16:16

I could well be wrong, but I think that the statement about not needing planning permission is a myth. You can't just build something without having permission!

Hixxy · 25-04-2003, 23:37

I don't know how true this is, but I've heard that BT hide mobile phone receivers/transmitters in the tops of their phone booths.

PaulTansley · 26-04-2003, 11:02

That rumour would have originated internally from a BT engineer so could hold some truth. After all there the guys that fit them.

Sidla · 26-04-2003, 15:05

They sometimes hide them inside the signs outside petrol stations.

halevan · 29-04-2003, 10:32

Mobile phone mast's are a health hazard, and so are mobile phones because they emit micro radiation which is harmfull to health just the same as microwave oven's.

However, one cannot uninvent these invention's so we have to live with them, just as we have to live with the nuclear bomb. I use a mobile phone, but only for emergency's, being disabled I carry it with me at all times, also when driving the car.

Some people I have seen use their mobile phone's all the time, just the same as an ordinary phone well, they are asking for trouble to hold them close to their head for long period's, it will fry their brain's eventually.

It is laughable to see them harming their bodies all the time mobile phone's, boozing, smoking, Illegal drug's, staying up half the night, sex with anyone anytime, exposing themselves to illness and disease, Don't they want to live?

Mike · 29-04-2003, 10:42

Quote:

Originally posted by "halevan"

Mobile phone mast's are a health hazard,

There has been no evidence to support this - there's a good article here

Quote:

Originally posted by "halevan"

...it will fry their brain's eventually.

Again, there's no actual evidence to support this theory.

Quote:

Originally posted by "halevan"

...harming their bodies all the time mobile phone's, boozing, smoking, Illegal drug's, staying up half the night, sex with anyone anytime, exposing themselves to illness and disease, Don't they want to live?

Yeah, perhaps they are living - it's called having fun, something perhaps you've forgotten about.

halevan · 29-04-2003, 12:23

Don't make me laugh! having fun? Living? you must be joking. I have more fun than a lot much younger than me but I don't sit in smokey room's that choke me, call that fun? I haven't forgotten mate, no way, I am just as alert as you are.

Mike · 29-04-2003, 13:28

Well anyway, it's up to the individual, isn't it - there's lots of things that people do for fun, that I wouldn't enjoy at all, but if that's what they want to do then that's fine.

I still don't see what your moral outburst has to do with phones though - are you sayin that "them", ie those who use mobiles a lot, also all drink, smoke and have casual sex?

Not sure how you make that connection.

Mike · 29-04-2003, 13:34

There's a mast out near Dore (not entirely sure it's a mobile phone mast) which is disguised as a tree. I never noticed it despite driving past it countless times until a mate pointed it out - much better on the eyes.

Classic Rock · 29-04-2003, 15:08

I can remember several months ago being referred to a website which tells you where your nearest phone mast is. There was some hype about them being in petrol station signs. Sadly I can't remember the website.

Tony Ruscoe · 29-04-2003, 15:46

Quote:

Originally posted by "Classic Rock"

I can remember several months ago being referred to a website which tells you where your nearest phone mast is. There was some hype about them being in petrol station signs. Sadly I can't remember the website.

Was it this site?

http://www.sitefinder.radio.gov.uk

Classic Rock · 29-04-2003, 15:54

yay! Well done!

Tony · 26-04-2004, 14:51

Residents set for legal fight on phone mast

FURIOUS residents are mounting a legal challenge against Sheffield Council after it allowed a mobile phone company to erect a mast in their neighbourhood.

Neighbours in Fulwood have opened a bank account to raise thousands of pounds in an attempt to hold a judicial review against the council.

The residents say the electrical boxes of the mast are just 15m from one house in Slayleigh Lane on the junction with Hallamshire Road.

Despite 134 letters of protest, they are furious that council officers used delegated powers to approve the mast.

Gillian Hume, of the Hallam Mast Appeal action group, said: "The mast is directly in front of someone's house and we want to know how this was allowed.

"We were originally told it would be 12.5m high and objected. It was lowered to 10m and again we objected but council officers allowed it through on delegated powers.

More of the story here

duffman · 26-04-2004, 15:21

On the topic of phone masts I read that they were being desguised as flag poles, I forgot which paper I read it in but a coucillor was quoted saying " If they put a flag on the pole it may look a bit patriotic" I wasn't sure wether he was for or against it with that comment. How many other ways will people think of disguising them??

ladybee · 26-04-2004, 15:22

Yes I am aware of this situation myself - I am buying a house in the Handsworth area at the moment and was very saddened to hear that O2 planned to erect a mobile phone mast about half a mile from our house. I read about it in the Star on the Friday and it said there would be a planning meeting on the Monday (last week) so I took time off to join in and say my piece. There's been loads of letters of complaint from local residents including the handsworth community forum but the government is recommending that councils approve all applications (it states this on the website and on the planning docs) so despite the letters and high level council support - guess what, it went ahead.

Sadly, the local forum had not been invited to the planning meeting (surprise surprise) and so I was the only person there to make a final plea. A councillor spoke to me at the end to tell me that she had not been allowed to speak at the planning meeting because she had voted against the move. It sucks basically, I would encourage everyone to make as much fuss as possible because they are now going ahead with the one in handsworth and the gov will obviously encourage further applications elsewhere

ladybee · 26-04-2004, 15:23

by the way, its the health impact that bothers me not whether or not it looks like a flag pole or not! but the health implications can't be considered at planning meetings as according to the gov, there are no negative side effects from living in close quarters to high levels of electro magnetic radiation.

Ned Ludd · 26-04-2004, 16:15

The Government has made a vast sum of money from the licensing of wavebands to cell phone networks. Having done so they can hardly obstruct the development of these networks. The council will be quite happy to make a few quid from siting masts on "their" property. Money talks.

On a separate matter I'd be interested to know what percentage of anti-mast protestors own and use mobiles themselves?
My sympathy is definately with anyone with a mast near their house but particularly with those that don't posess a mobile of their own.