The mast is coming down. We stood our ground and won.
December 4, 2017
Vodafone/O2 Telephone Mast has been sited right next to Marlborough House School, Hawkhurst, Kent, UK
Final supporters
Marlborough House School parents are calling for the relocation of the O2/ Vodafone mobile mast, that has been installed on Kent County Council Highways land, right by Marlborough House School for children aged 3-13.
No one knows the long-term effects of mobile masts as they have not been around long enough and not a single credible organisation has said that there is no risk in the long run. For that reason alone, the small children at Marlborough House School and surrounding houses in particular should not be used as guinea pigs. A precautionary principle must surely be exercised (as recommended by the government-commissioned Stewart Report). Safeguards have been built into national planning policy, but these were disregarded in this particular case.
A number of other countries - New Zealand, Australia, Sweden, Italy and parts of the United States - have banned phone masts near schools. Given the evolving nature of health authorities' stances on various issues (tobacco, asbestos, lead, BPA, Thalidomide, sodium valproate, for example), why take the risk with such small children? They are the first generation to have a life-long exposure to EMF with all sorts of technical devices part of everyday life. The true effects will only be known in a generation's time.
We know there is poor mobile reception. But communities must be involved in decisions about mobile masts. This did not happen. It is unacceptable that no-one living in the vicinity knew about it and neither did the parents of the children at Marlborough House School.
The mast is also much more visible than suggested in the plans, towering above the surrounding trees which will soon lose their leaves and provide no screen. We must value the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in which we live - and the Council has a duty to protect and enhance it.
Although the mast is already in situ, we are asking for an alternative site to be found. O2/ Vodafone have an opportunity to demonstrate integrity and acknowledge the concerns all signatories to this petition are expressing, and voluntarily agree to engage properly with Marlborough House School and community to relocate the mast.
For more information on how to support the campaign, please email [email protected]
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
October 1, 2017
September 29, 2017
The lack of community consultation remains unacceptable. We are currently preparing formal inquiries to demand answers about why planning safeguards were ignored.
Reached 100 supporters
September 26, 2017
143 Comments
The government's own guidelines, week though they may be, advise that phone masts should not be placed close to schools - so how did the mast manage to get through planning controls?
The absolute thoughtlessness of the Council to put a mast on a school's boundary is beyond belief. It should be removed with proper consultation to follow. How can lives of the country's future be put at possible risk.
Disgraceful.....if the government sponsored Stewart Report recommends a “precautionary approach” in particular where children and mobile phone technology is concerned, then siting a mobile phone mast next to a school is an obvious no-no! Please move it to a safer location ASAP.
While we do need better mobile cover in the area it is crazy to site the mast beside a primary school when there are so many others places it could have been placed. The school should have made this more public to the parents before now too.
Until there is no question at all that these masts pose any health risk then they should absolutely be kept clear of any school. There are plenty of other places for this mast to go in Hawkhurst so why put it right on the doorstep of 350 children?
Schools and nurseries should be clear from mobile masts.
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The mast is coming down. We stood our ground and won.
December 4, 2017
Vodafone/O2 Telephone Mast has been sited right next to Marlborough House School, Hawkhurst, Kent, UK
Final supporters
Marlborough House School parents are calling for the relocation of the O2/ Vodafone mobile mast, that has been installed on Kent County Council Highways land, right by Marlborough House School for children aged 3-13.
No one knows the long-term effects of mobile masts as they have not been around long enough and not a single credible organisation has said that there is no risk in the long run. For that reason alone, the small children at Marlborough House School and surrounding houses in particular should not be used as guinea pigs. A precautionary principle must surely be exercised (as recommended by the government-commissioned Stewart Report). Safeguards have been built into national planning policy, but these were disregarded in this particular case.
A number of other countries - New Zealand, Australia, Sweden, Italy and parts of the United States - have banned phone masts near schools. Given the evolving nature of health authorities' stances on various issues (tobacco, asbestos, lead, BPA, Thalidomide, sodium valproate, for example), why take the risk with such small children? They are the first generation to have a life-long exposure to EMF with all sorts of technical devices part of everyday life. The true effects will only be known in a generation's time.
We know there is poor mobile reception. But communities must be involved in decisions about mobile masts. This did not happen. It is unacceptable that no-one living in the vicinity knew about it and neither did the parents of the children at Marlborough House School.
The mast is also much more visible than suggested in the plans, towering above the surrounding trees which will soon lose their leaves and provide no screen. We must value the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in which we live - and the Council has a duty to protect and enhance it.
Although the mast is already in situ, we are asking for an alternative site to be found. O2/ Vodafone have an opportunity to demonstrate integrity and acknowledge the concerns all signatories to this petition are expressing, and voluntarily agree to engage properly with Marlborough House School and community to relocate the mast.
For more information on how to support the campaign, please email [email protected]
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
October 1, 2017
September 29, 2017
The lack of community consultation remains unacceptable. We are currently preparing formal inquiries to demand answers about why planning safeguards were ignored.
Reached 100 supporters
September 26, 2017
143 Comments
I'm very worried about the potential impact upon my children's health and that of other pupils. It's hard to understand how this can have happened without our knowledge, given that our children attend the school. Had I had an opportunity to object to the planning application, I would have done so.
The government's own guidelines, week though they may be, advise that phone masts should not be placed close to schools - so how did the mast manage to get through planning controls?
The absolute thoughtlessness of the Council to put a mast on a school's boundary is beyond belief. It should be removed with proper consultation to follow. How can lives of the country's future be put at possible risk.
Disgraceful.....if the government sponsored Stewart Report recommends a “precautionary approach” in particular where children and mobile phone technology is concerned, then siting a mobile phone mast next to a school is an obvious no-no! Please move it to a safer location ASAP.
While we do need better mobile cover in the area it is crazy to site the mast beside a primary school when there are so many others places it could have been placed. The school should have made this more public to the parents before now too.
Until there is no question at all that these masts pose any health risk then they should absolutely be kept clear of any school. There are plenty of other places for this mast to go in Hawkhurst so why put it right on the doorstep of 350 children?
Schools and nurseries should be clear from mobile masts.
Pull it down
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I'm very worried about the potential impact upon my children's health and that of other pupils. It's hard to understand how this can have happened without our knowledge, given that our children attend the school. Had I had an opportunity to object to the planning application, I would have done so.