Hutchison 3G Face Human Chain Over Mast

CHILDREN, parents and neighbours will link arms and form a human chain in protest at plans to put a mobile phone mast near their homes and schools.

Supporters, including MP Ian Gibson, will stand firm with the Thorpe Hamlet community to surround the proposed site of a 25-metre antennae. The protest will take place on Friday.

Telecommunications company Hutchison 3G's plan to install a mast, just yards from Thorpe Hamlet First School, was blocked by Norwich City Council's planning applications committee last August.

Councillors refused permission on the grounds that it would affect the "character and visual amenities" of the area.

But Hutchison 3G challenged the decision and made an appeal to deputy prime minister John Prescott to overturn it.

Joanna Rice, who began campaigning against antennae on the Mousehold Water Tower for two years, is determined to fight on to protect the community.

"I feel this is the last chance to show just how concerned we are," she said, warning that she would have to consider taking her children out of school there if the application went ahead.

"We are going to surround the site to show visually the impact this could have, and how many people it would affect. The children need to feel they have a voice to stop this.

"It would be 120 metres from the first school and beams umbrella out as far as 300 or so metres from the mast.

"I am not prepared to wait 10 years to see if it has had an effect or not."

The Evening News has led a two-year campaign to halt the installation of masts close to homes and schools until research proves they are safe.

Ms Rice, who has three children, Louis, 11, Joseph, nine, and Elsa, seven, believes that under-fives at a Sure Start centre, which is currently being built on site, will be most at risk. "I think it is immoral really," she said. "Unfortunately, it is just greed. These big companies don't seem to have a conscience."

Paul Morton, headteacher of Thorpe Hamlet Middle School, which also stands near the site of the proposed mast, said: "This is not a school-led protest but there have been lots of concerns about the effect of waves from masts.

"We are a community school and this is an issue that affects the children. It is where they live and where they come to school."

Norwich City Council spokesman Boyd Taylor said submissions on the plans had to be in by November 26 and a final decision was expected in the new year.

Mike Davies, of Hutchison 3G, said although the company did not have a network up and running for its third generation phones at present, the company wanted to use the site in the future.

"We feel that the installation is in the right area for network development. There are no other options in the area, so to get network coverage we are going with that site.

"The residents in the area will want mobile services. Third generation phones are the future of the industry."

Mr Davies said the company would be pressing ahead with an appeal, despite objections from families on health grounds.

"The appeal is a legitimate part of the planning process. We have taken the option to appeal, as is our right."

Mr Davies admitted there had been public objections at around five per cent of mobile phone mast application sites in the South East region, which includes Norfolk.