Future's (not) Orange

Since January, people living near Worthing Football Club in Woodside Road have been battling against a TETRA radio mast on the site. And this, along with the accumulative effect of the other mobile phone masts on the site, sparked health fears among residents.

But now the battle has got even bigger - two weeks ago, a 15metres-tall mast, this time, belonging to Orange, was reinstalled at the football ground, making it the fifth communications mast at the ground. Residents have now vowed to carry on the fight.

Speaking to the Herald on Tuesday, Andy Davidson, of Bulkington Avenue, said: "I couldn't believe it when I realised another mast was going up. A few weeks ago I went into the football ground and noticed the base had been built.

"Our main concern is health. The mast is right at the bottom of our gardens and will beam into our bedrooms. And people are still feeling the problems associated with the TETRA mast, including headaches and not being able to sleep.

"It is the accumulation of all the masts that is also a worry. We have been extremely tolerant neighbours to the football club, but we are now all of the mind we won't tolerate any more."

Neal Beck, also of Bulkington Avenue, said: "We are concerned about health. How many more of these masts are going to be put up alongside it?"

Agreeing, John and Diana Langley, of Bulkington Avenue, said: "There is a complete lack of information to the public. There are no Govern-ment guidelines and no assurances from the Government."

On January 9, 2002, a letter was sent by Worthing planning officers to Orange to say its application for approval for the mast had been refused. Planners felt the mast would detract from the residential amenity in Bulkington Avenue.

Orange appealed and was finally granted permission in October, 2002.

The residents are still battling against the TETRA mast. Apart from headaches and sleepless nights, they say they can't watch ITV on television because of the radio system. They have held numerous demonstrations and public meetings.

Mr Davidson said: "Where TETRA masts go up they do bring on symptoms. Having had TETRA dropped on our doorsteps and the more research we have done, we feel fully justified in regarding these masts as a risk to health."

Martin Teasdale, of St Elmo Road, said: "Since March 25, my wife Sandra has been, unusually, experiencing headaches and we cannot watch ITV. Representa-tions concerning ours and others' health have been presented to all parties and the Government.

"There appears to be no concern from the Government, even though there could already be adverse health clusters in other parts of the country. It looks like 'heads in the sand' again."

Residents are now preparing to carry out a health survey to try to see just how people are being affected by all the masts.

A spokesman for Orange said: "Orange acknowledges public concern regarding the siting of transmitters. However, there is no conclusive evidence that makes a link between exposure to radio waves, transmitter sites and long-term public health risks.

"Orange will continue to operate within the stringent international standards set for radio networks by the International Commission on Non-

Ionising Radiation Protection: an independent agency that advises Governments and the public on relevant safety issues and recommends the safety level of radio emissions for all users of the radio spectrum.

"All new and existing Orange transmitter sites comply with International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines.

"A typical Orange transmitter site operates at levels many hundreds of times below national and international guidelines, in areas where the general public would have access.

"We select sites that meet our technical needs, our customers' coverage requirements, and that comply with all planning and legal regulations."