Opposition to mast proposals (From Stroud News and Journal)

Opposition to mast proposals

A PROPOSED TETRA mast on the edge of the Golden Valley has been backed by community leaders - but a leading campaigner and a local resident believe planners should throw it out.

Minchinhampton Parish Council has supported NTL's plan for a TETRA (Terrestrial Trunked Radio Technology) antenna and equipment cabin on the site of an existing antenna at Hyde House Wood.

"There are no nearby settlements or children," said Cllr Stan Waddington on Monday, September 24. "The best evidence we have got is that there is no evidence of any health risks.

"In my opinion we have no reason to object to it."

Similar applications have been refused by Stroud District Council this year because it said they would pose a serious threat to the amenity of the area in that residents have public health concerns over them.

Critics argue that the system, designed to digitally link all the emergency services together, interferes with human brain waves.

TETRA conforms to National Radiological Protection Board guidelines and allows speech, data and images to be relayed.

Cllr Peter Munday, MPC chairman, asked for a vote.

"There is no proven health risk but people are very very concerned," he said. "The siting of this has to be a consideration and it's part of a national system."

The council voted by six to two to support the proposals, with two abstentions.

An SDC planning spokesman said the development control committee is expected to consider the application on November 13 at the earliest.