Cancer fears spark new mast fight
Angry residents are stepping up their campaign to stop a fifth mobile phone mast being planted on their doorstep.
One of the people living near the masts in Fareham is a man who has already nearly lost his life to leukaemia, and who fears the new mast could put residents at greater risk of cancer.
Campaigners thought they had won their fight when planners threw out the proposal from mobile phone giant O2 in March, saying the 41ft tower – next to another measuring 53ft – was too tall and 'out of keeping'.
But the phone company has now appealed against that decision and local residents are hoping to sway the government inspector who will now decide whether it can go ahead.
The planned mast would be the fifth within 500 yards, and residents argue 'enough is enough'.
They have again delivered leaflets and collected more than 50 signatures urging people to meet the July 27 deadline for objections.
But the firm insists the new generation of phones, known as 3G, need more coverage, and it expects to win the appeal.
David Reeves, of The Avenue, was saved from leukaemia seven years ago by a bone marrow transplant but fears another mast increases the chance of the disease returning.
'We are already surrounded by these masts and there is also a big shadow over them because nobody has proved completely that they are not dangerous,' he said.
'These big companies just feel they will always get their way in the end, but everybody in Fareham should stand up to these appeals.'
O2 community relations manager James Stevenson rejected any cancer link, and said: 'We are confident the inspector will overturn the decision.'
jeff.reines@thenews.co.uk
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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