Setback for mast campaign (From Stroud News and Journal)

Setback for mast campaign

ANTI-TETRA campaigners have suffered a huge setback in a test case which has sparked major concern for the future of the Stroud Valleys.

Planners who stood up to TETRA operators Airwave mmO2 saw their decision to block planning permission for a transmitter and base station at Rodborough overruled by a Government inspector on Thursday.

Costs of fighting the case have been awarded against SDC, which are expected to run in to tens of thousands of pounds.

The decision came just a week before three more planning appeal inquiry hearings against Stroud District Council which has rejected proposed antennae at Stroud police station, Selsley Common and Wotton-under-Edge. Councillors maintain the masts should not go up until the public is satisfied that they are safe.

This inquiry was the first where perceived health concerns were the only reason for refusal of the application by the local authority. It is likely to be seen as a test case for planning decisions by other local authorities, said Airwave mmO2 communications boss Mark Ede.

"The council had refused our application, against the advice of its planning officers, solely on the grounds of some unproven concerns about potential health risks," he said.

"The inspector accepted our argument that emissions from the mast fall well within the international precautionary guidelines set by ICNIRP (International Commission for Non Ionising Radiation) and that the public safety benefits provided by this service are important to the community.

"We hope that Stroud District Council will now reverse its opposition to the Airwave "roll-out" in Gloucestershire."

The police also welcomed the decision because the system should provide more secure and wider coverage.

Lynne Edmunds, who is leading the campaign against TETRA in Stroud and Gloucestershire vowed not to give up.

She said: "We are naturally sorry but we are taking expert advice over whether to go for a judicial review," she said.