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Mast protest outside store
Monday 9th February 2009, 8:00PM GMT.
The Vodafone protest in Pride Hill
Dozens of protesters wielding placards and banners marched through Shrewsbury’s main shopping street to demonstrate against plans for two controversial phone masts in the town.
Residents and campaigners from Copthorne and Radbrook walked from The Square to the Vodafone shop in Pride Hill in protest at the company’s bid to try to place masts close to homes and schools in their areas.
The protesters surrounded the outside of the shop on Saturday in the hope the public display of concern will force Vodafone into a rethink.
Grandmother Daphne Halls, of Copthorne Road, said she was furious at the phone giant’s plans to place a mast in their street.
She said many neighbours and friends were outraged that if it was approved it would be in close proximity to the Woodfield County Infant School and St George’s Primary School and hundreds of homes.
Mrs Halls said: “We have got a seven-year-old grandson who lives with us and we don’t want his brain frazzled and us to get cancer in five years time.
“The health risks are unknown but their long term impacts could be bad. Nobody wants it here.”
Campaigner Jon Sharp said campaigners are steadfast and will continue their opposition to the mast proposals.
He said: “This isn’t the first protest we have done and it won’t be the last. We’re going to keep going until they back down.”
Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council refused Vodafone’s application to install a 10-metre mast in Bank Farm Road under delegated powers last year.
Vodafone has now lodged an appeal with the Secretary of State to have the decision overturned.
Councillor Keith Roberts said residents were concerned the mast could pose health risks for the community.
Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski said he was was going to write to the chief executive of Vodafone in a desperate bid to urge the company not to proceed with the mast plans.
Vodafone has previously said that it takes neighbourhood concerns extremely seriously and it has held consultations with residents.
With regard to the Copthorne proposals it has said the mast will operate under “stringent guidelines” and will pose no health risk.
By Russell Roberts
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no doubt these luddites dont use mobile phones then? What madness, soap dodging lefties only can stand in the way of business and development, if you want a 21st century economy, we need mobile phones
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And the scientific evidence that these masts cause harm is where, precisely?…
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How can the parents allow persons who are clearly not old enough to vote become embroiled in this? I also see that Cllr Williams (Frankwell as she reported the other day) is protesting against a structure in an area where we live without asking our views..that’s democracy for you!
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I don’t understand why everyone always complains.
The probs all have mobile phones and all complain of poor signal.
I’ll have one in my back garden, where do i sign!
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I am sure the protesters against asbestos were mocked years ago as well… “here is the evidence..”, “what Luddites..”,
And what about smoking?
or Fluoride in the water?
Just because large corporations say its ok, and just because the government says its ok doesn’t mean it is. Nobody protests about the 1000s of new inventions on the market each decade, and when they do there might just be a reason for it.
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It was not a big turn out. And yes they all more than likely use a mobile . They just want it in some one elses back garden and not theres.
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Scientific proof exists that no harm comes from Phone masts.
This is similar to the mmr vacinations years ago where people heard from the media that the mmr was dangerous and refused to have the mmr.
This is another example of sheep mentality in our country where people believe any line from the media without exploring the hard scientific facts for themselves.
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I actually agree with a lot of the points made about the evidence…
However I find it interesting that Vodafone is also the network that is attracting the ire of people in Malinslee Telford after some pretty dodgy planning wrangling with T&W recently…
If the other networks are capable of working within local people and council’s concerns why are Vodafone seemingly getting it so wrong amd repreatedly?
So while I dont perhaps accept the science (or lack of it?) behind these protests. I also applaud the fact that these people are telling Vodafone that they wont be walked over!
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More harmful rays come from a phone than the mast – fact! Although I can understand why they don’t want the mast near to their house because they are certainly an eyesore. Please don’t pretend it is for health reasons though!
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why dont people get a life nowadays and grow up, phone masts are nothing compared to what tv, radio and satelite signals do to us. we’ve put up with these kind of things for years, so why protest its just a wasted excuse for no reason.
phone mast do not harm you its been proven time and time again.
give up protesters and stop letting the media wrap you around their little finger by believing everything they say and do.
yaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwn!!!!
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They’ll have mobiles (and expect them to work everywhere), quite a few may have a wireless internet using the same technology in their house. I bet most of the people concerned about this mast use something considerably more dangerous to children’s health – a car.
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i never understand why these aerials are so dangerous, what is the difference between mobile phone aerials and tv aerials or for that matter an aerial on top of the wrekin. i am intrigued to know the answer.. sorry to be in the same camp as tory boy it is injurious to my health!
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dumdum and dumber it has never been proven that phone masts are safe. It also takes years to investigate the problems, so isn’t it sensible to take care when siting these masts. That’s what the governments advise says.
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Is it fair that so many people get so nasty about people standing up for their rights. Why can’t children protest? We all have the right to live in a safe and happy environment and until masts are proved safe then they shouldn’t be put up all over the place. Where is the proof they are safe?
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The over crowding of these masts in our town is due to 3g, do we really need it at the cost to our health. Why do we need so many? Also who will pay out if it is proven they cause health problems. Not the phone company, it comes down to the land owner.
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Firstly, everyone has the right to protest about what they feel is right or wrong irregardless of age. Should those under voting age not be allowed a voice? Concerns about this phone mast have been based on well documented scientific data(8 out of 10 studies registered with the world health organisation show the negative effect masts have on health). We are not naive enough to take government/mobile phone company financed research as fact. I suggest as a starting point you review the Naila Study “The influence of being physically near to a cell phone tranmission mast on the incidence of cancer”. We are neither soap dodging lefties or luddites – we are all for advancement however, we nor our children are willing to be guinea pigs to line the pockets of the telecommunications fat cats.
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Aw look at the misinformed and brain washed children. They’ll be stick with this opinion for the rest of their lives.
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The fact that those who do not agree with the mast are being so rude says a lot about them. Brainwashed kids? Misinformed? Where is the evidence that says masts and phones are safe? Everyone has the right to voice their opinion in this country and that is all these people are doing.
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loony lefties
we need to bring back hanging
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So many misinformed people yet again.
It is possible to run 2G/3G through the same antennas which equates to no additional structures being needed.
If there are any issues leading to people raising claims for any reason you will find in nearly every lease (certinaly every one I have looked at) that there is a provision in place regarding liability.
Oh and Granny Halls quotes are priceless.
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yes but if the loony left dont want masts they should hand up their phones now
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fingers is right for one, i know this as i worked for three, and secondly there is proof they dont harm because if they did the government wouldnt let them be erected evrywhere. like i said its not phone mast you want to worry about its other things like, raf bases with radar, satelite dishes, over head power lines! the list goes on.
quite frankly the protest was a waste of time and a shame that those adults involved brought children into it. i saw the look on the kids faces and they looked scared. they shouldnt have been there at all.
anyway lets move on yeah, this subject is repetitive and, well boring now…..
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in response to malcy, who suggested that i didnt ask the public/residents. I was approached by a group of residents who call themselves “no Mast”, who asked for my help, i didnt take any children with me,but thank god it is a free country and those parents wishing to bring their children were welcome. This mast is within 200yds of two schools with 600 children , we all have a reason to be concerned. As for the lefty element, i dont think that either Daniel Kawczynski or myself could be classed as lefties,. I do my duty, I respond to requests,I help when I can,I have done for 25 years ,stop whinging and anyway what have you done for our community?
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all the science says its safe, but mind you they said that about fags
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in response to malcy – just for your information, which you are badly lacking. I was approached by residents who are part of a group called NO Mast. , they were desperatley seeking help to try and get vodofone to back off from this site so close to two large schools. We then enlisted Daniel Kawczynski who had top level meetings, we decided on a demo as a lats ditch attempt to stop the mast. I didnt take a child, but many parents who attended and children went to Woodfield and St Georges did, its a free country, and it will be theirs one day. Oviously Malcy is a pseudonim, surely not a real name? come out and lets see who you are, and analyse your public spirited actions. as for me and daniel being accused of being lefties, i d ont think so.! The previous blog was sent before i had chance to fill in the name bit and it went through on my daughters, for the avoidance of any doubt.
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There is no proof dumdum. And as for the government not allowing them if there was, they let people smoke and they know how harmful that is. Anyway the governments report into masts clearly says that they should be sited with caution as the effects are not yet know. People like you don’t want to hear that though!
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When we were faced with a mast going up next to our home, we asked O2 if they could guarantee our safety and if they were completely safe. They refused to answer that question, i think that says it all! dumber, if you work for 3 and have this scientific evidence then tell us how we can get hold of it.
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Actually I saw the kids too, they were having a wail of a time; they were more involved than the adults.
It shocks me that you think governments don’t let ‘bad for you’ things be put all over the place. The recent history of our country begs to differ. The government makes a giant wad of cash out of mobile telecommunication licenses. I’ve spoken to people who work(ed) in telecoms, they wear little badges that change colour dependent on emission levels as they climb masts to repair/update them, lets just say, under their advice, I won’t be standing at the bus stop on the Richmond drive junction when they erect the mast.
The fact of the matter is the government funded research and the telecomms funded research very clearly states that they can not rule out negative health implications from communication transmission masts.
Oh and did you hear about the T-mobile funded research, it came back reporting that masts were in fact a danger to health – T-mobile brushed that right under the carpet and tried to gag the scientists involved. In Greece, after reviewing both sides of the research argument, the government have banned masts within 500m of any educational institution.
At the end of the day you have to make up your own mind, after doing thorough research, not before. To go down the route of throwing around personal insults towards those who went out to protest is at best juvenile. They certainly aren’t throwing them back, so why go there? The day no one stands up to fight for what they believe in is the day we have lost this country to apathy.
By the by I don’t use a mobile phone, nor wi-fi, nor cordless landline telephoning. It’s funny how people feel they can act with venom when they have the security of a faceless screen to hide behind. I’ll make an educated guess that you didn’t approach the protest to pour forth malice in person.
To state we need to bring back hanging tells me so much about you.
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Thalidomide
Asbestos
Fluoride
Cigarettes
Nuclear testing
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firstly the government say erect with caution because they full well know that it causes unwanted and wasted protests like we’ve seen.
and can i just quote judith williams….
“ITS A FREE COUNTRY AND WILL BE THEIRS ONE DAY”
well if thats councillor williams out look then why is she on the council????? because its councils and councillors like here that are riuning our country not phone companies!
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oh and i think most people in shrewsbury do think that judith and daniel are lefties………..
prove us wrong?
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easy option for the antis, get a land line and put them out of business, the hypocrisy of these NIMBYs is staggering, i bet they all use mobiles
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Come on Dumber, i’m waiting for this evidence you have! I would also just like to say good on Judith and Daniel for helping these residents.
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build one in wem if you want – we need the jobs
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plus my signal is lousy
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Said this before the biggest danger of microwave rf leakage is in everyones kitchens! and these babies are a lot more powerful and closer to all of us than mobile phone masks! make sure the door seals are clean and intact or Grannie Hall will frazzle her brains :-)
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OK, let’s look at risks:
How many deaths have been shown to be caused by mobile phone/mast radiation?
None.
How many lives have been saved by someone using a mobile phone (e.g. to call ambulance/mountain rescue)?
Many.
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helping residents with their votes for them more like!
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Fully agree with blah – sensible and considered debate there.
Why should we not show our children that they can contribute – we are after all living in a democracy and the mast is being built next to their schools.
I don’t know enough about this issue to make informed comment except to say that from what I do know there does not seem to be concrete evidence one way or the other and if in doubt I prefer to minimise the risk. I do have wirless broadband but I switch it off when it’s not being used. Same with my mobile – switch it off in the house and I won’t ever have a cordless home phone.
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GB, you can’t say that, the people living in the cancer cluster in Sutton coldfield would argue that there have been many deaths due to these masts. NOTHING has been proven either way yet! Stop saying it has.
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CRT televisions put out a small number of X-rays, which are of course potentially dangerous.
Do we see any of these protestors calling for a ban on tellies?
As for the issue of children protesting, it’s similar to the idea of children having religious beliefs.
As Richard Dawkins has it – ‘there are no children with religious beliefs, only children of parents who have religious beliefs’.
Similarly there are not really any child protestors – only the children of parents who wish to protest. It’s indictrination – nothing more or less.
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For the benefit of Mrs Williams my parents named me Malcolm,my numerous friends know me as Malcy so it’s hardly a pseudonym(check the spelling)! I can’t make out if your ‘leftie’ comment was directed at me, if that is the way you feel I will remove my vote from your party as I have done for the past 30 odd years and give it to a candidate who appreciates it. The choice is mine.That’s democracy for you. :-)
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