FAMILIES are suffering ‘sleepless nights’ over proposals for a mobile phone mast which they say would ‘tower over’ their Hillmorton Road back gardens where their children play.
An application to build the 15-metre mast at the Grange Bowling Green in Tennant Close was rejected by Rugby Borough Council in October on grounds it would have a “detrimental impact on the visual appearance and would harm the visual character of the area”.
But applicants Shared Access and Mobile Broadband Network Limited (MBNL) have appealed to the Planning Inspectorate against the decision, claiming the mast would not “have any overbearing impact on the outlook of neighbouring residents”.
Steve Poole, whose back garden borders the proposed site for the mast, says it would tower over his house.
He told The Observer: “The mast will be in every window, and what a depressing view that will make on the horizon.
“It will affect the cost and saleability of the houses in the immediate area.”
A neighbour who did not wish to be named added: “We were shocked to hear about the plans.
“This mast would be imposing over our garden, standing taller than our tallest trees, and would be only two metres away from our two-year-old daughter’s play area.”
She said she was ‘deeply concerned’ over evidence that the mast’s non-ionising radiation could cause cancer – although the Planning Inspectorate would not consider such a complaint because the link has not been proved.
She said: “There is more and more evidence accumulating about non-ionising radiation and its links with cancer.
“We are not willing to take that risk with our young families and may have to leave our homes if this were to go ahead.
“We have been having many sleepless nights – this is affecting the mental health of many residents.”
Paddox Ward borough councillor Noreen New added: “No-one can guarantee mobile phone masts do not pose a threat to young or unborn children following long term exposure.
“We all remember that asbestos was once considered safe and used throughout our schools and homes – it was only many years later that we discovered the risks.”
Objections to the scheme can be submitted at www.tinyurl.com/yythavfa or by writing to case officer Daniel Cardy at the Planning Inspectorate, Room 3B, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Bristol, BS1 6PN before the deadline of Wednesday (March 13).
