Campaign Against the 3G Mobile Phone Mast Planning Application


Friern Barnet Library, Colney Hatch Lane/Sutton Road
Planning Application Reference N14894/05


Barnet Council have recently written to residents to advise them of a planning application for a "telecommunications pole and associated equipment cabinets", and inviting residents comments.

Like most residents I assumed this was for a telegraph pole, and took no further notice of the letter, until recently when I was clearing my correspondance.
As I prepared to throw the letter into the bin, I wondered why the council would seek my views on the erection of a telegraph pole - after all there are plenty already dotted all around the local streets.

A quick call to the planning department at Barnet Council confirmed that this was in fact a 3G Mobile Phone Mast and Base Station.
I immediately protested to the council that their letter was extremely misleading.
A 3G mast and base station should be described as such, and not disguised by such bland language as the council used in their letter.

I then started a search on the internet to discover the facts about 3G Masts.
So far I have discovered:-
1. The scientific community are undecided about the health risks associated with 3G masts, with some scientists saying there is no danger, others saying there is a definate danger, and the majority saying the facts are not yet known
2. The Australian Government have outlawed the erection of mobile phone masts within 1km (0.62 miles) of a school
3. Recent research commissioned by the Dutch Government has demonstrated that there is a risk to health from 3G base stations, as well as an adverse effect upon the well-being of local residents including significant levels of nausea, headaches and tingling sensations
4. The Swedish Government has found that a proportion of the population are particularly susceptible to the negative effects of 3G Masts and Base Stations, and provide a grant to enable those worse affected to move from the immediate vicinity
5. The British Government commissioned a report on the use of mobile phones and the placement of masts and base stations called the Stewart Report. This report states that “it is not possible at present to say that exposure to RF radiation, even at levels below national guidelines, is totally without potential adverse health effects, and that the gaps in knowledge are sufficient to justify a precautionary approach”. The Stewart Report goes on to recommend that exclusion zones be placed around all base stations.

I have decided to try to organise a residents campaign against the erection of this mast as it clearly ignores the Governments own guidelines.
Unfortunately, there is little time left - due to the innacurate description given by the council, no-one has acted on this Application until just a week before the deadline.

The final date for submissions to the Council is the 9th December 2005.



To see a map of the proposed site Click Here
As you will see on the map the following Community Resources are just some that fall within 1km of the proposed site for the mast:-

Schools & Colleges

Coppett's Wood Primary School
Hollickwood Junior & Infants School
Coldfall Infant & Junior School
Our Lady of Muswell Hill RC Primary School
Rhodes Avenue Primary School
Norfolk House School
Fortismere Secondary School
Muswell Hill College
College of NE London - 2 Sites


Community Resources

Coppetts Wood & Nature Reserve
Muswell Hill Sports Ground
Coldfall Wood
Albert Road Park & Sports Ground
Muswell Hill Tennis Club
Muswell Hill Golf Course
Numerous Recreation Grounds and Allotments
Coppetts Wood Hospital
Alexandra Park Library
South Friern Barnet Library just yards from the proposed site


What Can YOU Do ?

I have already written a Main Objection Letter to the council.

You can view it in PDF Format by clicking here

If you agree with the objections raised in the Main Objection Letter, please print off a copy of the Supplementary letter here this allows you to add your own comments in support of the Main Objection Letter

If you would like to organise a petition, you can print one off here

You can download Acrobat Reader here

If your browser prevents you from viewing these files, right click on the links and select 'Save Target As....' and save the files to your Desktop for viewing offline.

Alternatively a supply of Petitions and Supplementary Letters have been left on the coffee table at the South Friern Barnet Library. If they have run out please email me

PLEASE ENSURE ALL LETTERS AND PETITIONS ARE DELIVERED TO SOUTH FRIERN LIBRARY BY MIDDAY FRIDAY 9TH DECEMBER 2005 FOR COLLECTION AND DELIVERY TO THE COUNCIL

There is an envelope pinned to the noticeboard in the foyer of the library for petitions and supplementary letters



Here are some useful links:-

The sparse details provided on the Barnet Council Planning Website
The Mast Sanity website - a pressure group dedicated to advising residents how to fight the inappropriate placement of masts,
and also a central source of scientific information (see their links page)
The UK Government Commissioned Stewart Report
Dr Neil Cherry the New Zealand Professor of Environmental Health who maintains with respect to electromagnetic fields and radiation that
"there is no safe threshold level. The only safe exposure level is zero"

Please help - get a Petition going, or complete a Supplementary Letter

If you are an experienced campaigner and would like to help more please email me

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