Second thoughts on church masts

[3g-g]

Yet more problems for the 3G networks, this time it's T-Mobile on the receiving end...

Reported by Manchester Evening News Online.

CONTROVERSIAL plans by a church to pocket £5,000 a year by allowing four mobile phone masts to be erected on its roof - close to two primary schools - have been put on hold.

St John's, in Heaton Mersey, Stockport, faced a barrage of protests from the local community when the proposal was revealed last year.

At a heated public meeting, concerned families even offered to match the phone companies' offer of £5,000 a year if the church scrapped the plans for the T Mobile 3G masts.

To their amazement that proposal was rejected after a meeting of the Parochial Church Council. Campaigners decided to step up the fight and pledged to protest outside the church every Sunday.

There have been growing fears about the possible health risks of mobile phone masts, especially near schools. Many of the protesters have children at either nearby Stella Maris or St John's CoE Primary schools.

Hasty

But on the day the church was due to sign the deal, the Rev Marcus Maxwell of St John's admitted it had been "a bit hasty" in rejecting the community's bid to meet T Mobile's offer.

He told the M.E.N. the church would rethink the plan, although he did not rule out the possibility that the masts will still be erected on the roof of the Grade II-listed building.

Rev Maxwell said: "We don't want people to think we are saying `give us your money or we will microwave your kids' but I would very much like to revisit the idea of working with the community and looking at fundraising. If we thought there was a risk we wouldn't put them up. There is no comprehensive research to suggest antennae are dangerous."

Mother-of-three Lynda Lacey was one of the residents who was prepared to set up a standing order to the church. Mrs Lacey, 35, said: "It's good news that the church has decided to look at this again. I feel very strongly about this and I am prepared to stand outside the church every Sunday and make my feelings known. Nobody can say for definite these masts are safe.

[Ben]

Ack! Nothing is 'safe'. From the research so far, there's probably far more chance of your kids dying in a car crash than getting cancer from phone masts...

This sounds like a great way for the church to get some decent funding while the local kids, who I'd imagine all have mobile phones, get better reception. Infact, I'd imagine having a closer mast would actually mean their phones can transmit using less power - BENEFITING THEM by placing less radiation directly next to their brain when in a call.

By all means object to having 4 masts on your beautiful local church roof and allow planning officials to weigh up the pro's and con's, but if you're really worried about your children try things like reading to them regularly, giving them a balanced diet and a loving environment in which to grow up in before spending your Sundays protesting down the road.

[solo12002]

God clearly the Church need help, did i read 5000 pounds a year for 4 masks? ffs I work for the NHS they get 50,000 for one. You think they get a better deal!

[3GScottishUser]

I think the going rate is about £5000/year for mast hosting. perhaps the press got the sums wrong?

Anyway, what's new? In the 80's the C of E howled and screamed about 'Sunday Trading' and at the same time invested (via their charity commissioners) in out-of-town tarding estates in Scotland!

Aw well.... there are principles and then there is money!!

[TheBrit]

Originally Posted by Ben

Ack! Nothing is 'safe'. From the research so far, there's probably far more chance of your kids dying in a car crash than getting cancer from phone masts...

This sounds like a great way for the church to get some decent funding while the local kids, who I'd imagine all have mobile phones, get better reception. Infact, I'd imagine having a closer mast would actually mean their phones can transmit using less power - BENEFITING THEM by placing less radiation directly next to their brain when in a call.

By all means object to having 4 masts on your beautiful local church roof and allow planning officials to weigh up the pro's and con's, but if you're really worried about your children try things like reading to them regularly, giving them a balanced diet and a loving environment in which to grow up in before spending your Sundays protesting down the road.

there speaks the voice of reason.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[3g-g]

For anyone that may be interested, here's the site run by the operators giving information on mobile phone masts, mobile phone health and mast info for the UK. If anyone has any issues or concerns it's quite possible this site will be able to help.

You can find them by clicking here.