Letter to The Ripon and Leeds Diocesan Registry
The process of securing ecclesiastical rights permission under Faculty has not yet started, but it is possible that the matter won’t even be taken to Faculty for
consideration, if strong enough reasons against it can be seen.
7-03-02
Dear Mrs. Harding
We would like to bring to your attention several matters relating to the decision regarding the Vodafone installation at Holy Trinity, Knaresborough.
In examining the Planning Files held by Harrogate Borough Council it was discovered
- in considering other possible sites for the mast, Fysche field (by the swimming pool) was dismissed, partly because of its visual impact, but mostly because of its situation beside King James’ School and the health implications thereof.
- in the Conservation Officer’s comments, he openly acknowledges the possible health risks (see sheet 1)
- in their appeal statement, Vodafone claim to have complied with PPG8 & Code of Best Practice in terms of co-operation and consultation (see sheet 2 section 3.12) This has not been done by any of the parties involved as far as the local residents are concerned.
- in the Appeal Decision by the Planning Inspectorate, the retention of the louvres is recommended, as & when the antennae become redundant and are removed (see sheet 3, section 14.4).
On Friday 25 January 2002 Sir William Stewart, the Chairman of the Programme Management Committee, announced the first projects to receive funding under the Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research Programme. This is a major programme of 15 research projects designed to help resolve confusion surrounding the health effects of mobile phone radiation funded by the government and the mobile phone industry. In view of this announcement and the almost tacit acceptance shown by the above points that health risks do exist and will be confirmed, we suggest that the precautionary approach be applied in this case, at least while research is ongoing.
We also draw your attention to the statement by Hutchinson3G concerning the safety of mobile phone masts (see sheet 4).
We have stated before that we do not object to mobile phone masts per se, but to their proximity to housing & schools where children are most at risk. The Archbishop’s Council Telecommunications Working Party were developing an advisory package for PCC’s with specific guidance on application of the precautionary approach for churches in sensitive locations e.g. very close to schools. In the case of Holy Trinity, several children’s groups use the Church hall; several more, including a mother & toddler group, meet in the URC church, adjoining the church grounds; there are several families with young children living immediately beside the church and many more close enough to be seriously concerned.
We strongly object to the changes to the installation plans: - instead of being positioned behind the louvres, the antennae are now to be notched in 70mm from the front edge, and so most of their 2.5m length will be visible. The face width of the antennae is 260mm; this is a large proportion of the 410mm louvre width (between the mullion and the side). Even with painting the changing shadow effects cannot be reproduced, and the antennae will be easily visible from many places. We have no confidence in Vodafone’s ability to stick to the plans, given the changes which have already been made and their inability even to show the correct number of louvres on their plans.
Finally, with a view to conservation, we do not see how the louvres can be removed without being damaged, an important point when they have to be retained for possible reinstatement.
Before a decision is made we would like to extend an invitation to yourself and the Chancellor to visit a number of homes in the locality, not to discuss the matter, but to view the site the way we see it.
Yours sincerely
These statements were included in Vodafone’s planning appeal application to the Secretary of State :
3.0 Planning History
3.03. Vodafone’s continuing negotiations with the Parochial Church Council and the Diocese of Ripon and York coupled with the PCC sown discussions with English Heritage delayed submission of the Planning and Listed Building Consent applications until October 2000. At this time Faculty permission had been secured and English Heritage had confirmed that they had no objections to the proposal installation.
3.12 Throughout the process and particularly through the six month planning period our clients and ourselves have endeavoured to apply the concept of co-operation and consultation encouraged by PPG 8 (See Section 6.00) and the Code of Best Practice: Telecommunications Prior Approval Procedures. All efforts to ensure the proposed development offers the least environmental impact have been promoted to ensure that the most acceptable balanced solution to satisfy Vodafone’s licence obligations is adopted.
