Way cleared for masts (From Stroud News and Journal)

Way cleared for masts

A CLEAR path has opened up for three more TETRA antennae in the Five Valleys.

A government-appointed planning inspector has ruled that Stroud District Council should not have refused planning applications for the antennae at Stroud police station, Selsley Common and Westridge near Wotton-under-Edge.

By crushing the opposition to the emergency service's controversial telecommunications the government has given the green light to more TETRA masts in the county.

But Lynne Edmunds of Stroud Area Residents Against Radiation said the fight was not over. "Everybody in the locality is prepared to fight to the last to protect their children from the radiation which will fall from TETRA installations," she said.

The proposal to site a mast on Stroud Police Station was strongly opposed by Top of Town residents and children, parents, governors and staff from Stroud Valley Primary School.

It is soon to leave its Ryeleaze Road site next to the police station but there are still fears the other Castle Street site will not be out of range.

"It's just a decision we will have to live with," said Rowland South, head teacher.

"We had super support and we did our best."

Chris Minett, chairman of the school governors said: "We are very disappointed although we knew in our hearts that we had little chance of winning because the planning process did not allow for our concerns over health."

Selsley resident Susan Edwards has called in Stroud MP David Drew to help Stroud District Council establish whether the existing Selsley Common mast actually stands on common land.

That could spark an ownership dispute and the operators' right to install TETRA antennae there.

Appeals on all three were heard in April. SDC angered many by withdawing its opposition to the applications at the last minute.

That followed a Government inspector's decision to overrule SDC's refusal of planning permission for a TETRA mast at Rodborough.

The council said it could not pay for another three appeals.

In his report the planning inspector said the perceived health concerns and visual impact of the proposals were not compelling reasons for withholding planning permission.

The masts comply to International Commission for Non Ionising Radiation guidelines but its opponents believe not enough is known about the effects of the antennae on human health.

*Yesterday, Tuesday, SDC planners deferred a decision on re-submitted plans for another TETRA antenna at Hyde House Wood, Chalford to July 9 because of concerns over consultation with the public.