Three letters published in Knaresborough Post 9-3-01
Thanks to anti-mast supporters at rally
From FADER
The organisers of the FADER protest outside Holy Trinity Church on Sunday would like to say a very big THANKYOU to everyone who supported us. After the rally the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds was handed a petition,
signed by hundreds, objecting to the proposed Vodafone antennas on the spire.
The Bishop told protestors that “the church was doing this as a service to the community.” This seems at odds with earlier statements in the press by various churches about the importance of these installations to church funding. Subjecting the community to radiation, which is most likely to affect the young and infirm, is like feeding condemned food to the starving. If they are doing it as a service then perhaps any revenue should go to community charities, for it is we who would be living with the danger.
The Archbishops’ Council Telecomm Working Party says that each church should consider the health and safety issues and the effect on relations with the local community before entering into any transmitter arrangement. It also highlights the Stewart Report statement, that anxieties over the uncertainty of base-station radiation harm, can in themselves affect people’s well-being.
Perhaps the forthcoming meeting between Harrogate Borough Council members and the four main mobile phone companies will mean that no masts will be placed near to houses in this area. It is a relief to know that someone in authority is taking the matter seriously.
Don’t put profit before health
From Heather Reid, 12 Gracious Street, Knaresborough
I AM writing to express my concern about the proposal to install a mobile phone base station in the spire of Holy Trinity Church. There is clearly a lot of argument about
the pros and cons of mobile phones but there can be no doubt that the jury is still out about the health effects of mobile phone base stations. We live near to Holy Trinity Church and are really worried about the possible
consequences of low level microwave radiation for ourselves and particularly for our children. There have been a number of studies suggesting a link between such radiation and cancer and other health problems. Surely the church
should listen to the concerns of local residents and exercise caution until more is known, especially as mobile phone base stations are not essential services but profit making enterprises, why should we be put at risk for the
sake of big business? Some councils have taken the lead in refusing permission for mobile phone base stations within 200 metres of any school, hospital, health centre or residential dwelling. This would certainly disqualify the
proposed station in Holy Trinity and also the existing transmitters on the fire station and the police station. What will happen in Knaresborough?
Pylons and health have firm link
From M Curtis, Horsemill Square, Knaresborough.
Although I couldn't attend the anti-Vodafone protest at Holy Trinity on Sunday, I was delighted to see it make the local news. At last some recognition of the importance of
public opinion! I read with interest that there is now an acknowledged link between electricity pylons and various health problems such as childhood leukaemia. How long did the electricity companies deny any risk? The mobile
phone companies are still saying thereare no dangers connected with masts and antennas, but how can they prove it? I already live within a few metres of the Orange antennas on the fire station and my grandchildren live very
close to Holy Trinity Church. It's about time that someone thought about the consequences of these installations and gave us some protection. The antennas should be sited out of town even if they cause an eyesore at least
they're safer.
Well done to those who turned out on Sunday to show their concern on behalf of us all.
