Update 1st July 2008
Telephone Exchange in Barwick-in-Elmet is discounted by O2, as inappropriate location for a mobile phone mast, due to its proximity to residential houses.
We have been working closely with residents in Barwick-in-Elmet, Leeds who are also campaigning against an O2 mast. We have had an opportunity to compare O2's levels of consultation and approach to securing a site in both communities. The campaign group in Barwick-in-Elmet have just confirmed to us that in 2006 Mr. Peter Erskine, O2's CEO wrote to them and cited their Telephone Exchange in the village as a "site which was discounted because it was too close to a residential area". Yet again this seems to be an example of how O2 are actively discriminating against our community in Southwell. Mr Erskine has publicly acknowledged that an identical site to ours - in close proximity to residential houses - is not an appropriate site for a mobile phone mast. Therefore by siting a mast at our Telephone Exchange we can only conclude that O2 have compromised their own health and safety criteria in favour of financial gain. We have asked our MP Mr. Patrick Mercer to ask Mr. Erskine why our community is not being treated fairly, like other communities?
Update 23rd June 2008
The No Masts in Southwell Campaign awareness day was a great success. It's still very clear that our community will not be happy until the o2 mast is relocated.
The launch of the new petition was kicked off with at least 200 signatures on Saturday morning alone. Many of the shops and businesses in the town have offered to take petitions.
Patrick Mercer MP and Councillor Bruce Laughton supported the event, by talking the the community about the reasons why the mast needs to be relocated. (Picture right)
The day was surrounded by national press raising negative news about masts. Friday the Telegraph and Mail both reported on the 34 cancer cases in close proximity to one of the most powerful phone masts in the country. Ofcom, the communications watchdog, said the area around the mast, in Kingswinford, West Mids, had the highest radiation levels of any site it had tested.
Yesterday the Daily Express reported on research carried out by Dr Roger Coghill, a Government Advisor who has linked the high number of suicides in Bridgend, South Wales to children living closer than most of the population to phone masts. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
Update 20th June 2008
14 die of cancer in seven years living next to phone mast with highest radiation levels in UK
'Killer' mast: 14 people have died who lived near it over the last seven years
A mobile phone mast emitting the highest radiation level in the country has been linked to fourteen cancer deaths with in a mile of the mast
The Mail 19/06/08 CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY
The Telegraph 20/06/08 CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY
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What our supporters are saying
"I congratulate these parents for their totally responsible attitude, our children are precious. I wish more parents would research the issue of technologies using pulsed microwave radiation and other things."
"This debate is not about "do we need masts", of course we all expect perfect coverage everywhere we go. This is about the mobile companies siting them away from schools and nurseries."
"Great to see an excellent debate on such a sensitive subject. Its obvious that some people, who have made comments in favour of mobile phone masts, do not understand parenthood or have grasped the actual facts that are available."
"Our feeling having undertaken a lot of research is that doubt in relation to children and the long term effects of exposure to mobile phone masts, still exists. "
"I think the work being done to oppose the mast being sited on the Ropewalk is fantastic and the response from local people is huge"
