SAY NO TO

Selected news items

Here are some selected news items. This feature will only be updated with the more significant developments; those wanting more regular updates should check the publications on our websites page.

HIGH COURT QUASHES BRIGHTON SCHOOL MAST

Despite strong local opposition, Brighton & Hove City Council (‘BHC’) had approved a 15m monopole mast just 28m (90ft) from a school. Faced with a Judicial Review that would expose their failings, BHC suddenly buckled and did not contest the action.

The High Court duly decided that BHC

● failed to address the health impacts of it being near to the school

● failed to consider an alternative location

● unlawfully determined that the highway safety implications of the mast’s cabinets and the concerns expressed by the highways team were not relevant. '

Approval for the mast was quashed.

Congratulations to Karen and Vicky of Action Against 5G and their team, local mums Carol Springgay and Carole Ward who did the local legwork without great resources. And thanks of course to everyone who generously chipped in to the CrowdJustice appeal to fund the legal action against the clock or who got leaflets out to others. The success is yours too.

We noted “The campaign is well worth supporting as a victory here would warn councils everywhere against approving masts by schools – or ignoring health impact.”

SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN Joshua M Pearce of the University of Western Ontario is not ‘anti-mast’, being a shareholder of an infrastructure company. However he feels that masts should be at least 500m/547yds from schools, citing various technical publications on the effects of radiation on children. Limiting liability with positioning to minimize negative health effects of cellular phone towers Note UK publications on safeguarding children from the LGA and the independent Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (CFGS); also the UK government (legal angles) – for instance noting a Council has the statutory duty of "preventing impairment to children's health or development"

US COURT VICTORY FOR CHILDREN. A group headed by the Environmental Health Trust scored a landmark victory against the FCC (America’s OFCOM), whom a judge found in breach of the law. FCC had been “arbitrary and capricious” in sticking with its exposure limits. The court also held that the FCC failed to respond to evidence of health and environmental effects. “It is very important that the court ruled that the FCC must address the impacts of radiofrequency radiation on the health of children amassed since 1996.” Also worth a look is the Children’s Health Defense website.

	‘THE RADIATION LINE’, BUT WHICH HEADLINE IS TRUE?

The Standard concentrated on 4G. 5G was buried in the text as potential for upgrade. However, BAI Communications, who won the concession, mentioned 5G eight times in their media release.

It seems that the deal is only about 4G on the Tube short-term. It will be for 20 years, and whereas tube tunnels will be used to provide full fibre cabling, this will then be connected to buildings and ‘street assets like street lighting and bus stops’. These will house small cells to “leverage the power of 5G” and the Internet of Things, and be used for wider concerns such as road traffic management, ‘public safety’, and city planning.

It is not just for Transport for London (TfL) and the GLA. This network will extend into London’s neighbourhoods, offering commercial services for homes and businesses. Although justified as providing additional revenue for TfL, journalist Mark Jackson is not so sure – he believes that BAI could make it quite expensive for mobile firms to get involved.

TfL’s own brochure, Connected London, written well before the commercial tender and the recent elections, ambitiously talks of providing “unparalleled 5G”. This is a bit stronger than just claiming that the new network will be upgradeable or even ‘5G ready’.

Three and EE have signed up to provide 4G connections to their customers - enabling them to make phone calls or stream video while in Tube tunnels and stations. Vodafone is expected to join them in January 2022.

Home page Site map

Links last updated: 31 Dec 2021, 6 Oct 2022.

Links are given to stimulate debate and are not necessarily endorsements.