Information about plans for mobile phone base stations and masts in the Fulwood Preston area.

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The Vicarage Lane campaign is now history. We will tidy the page up and, metaphorically, put it in a corner somewhere.

Latest News

Orange have withdrawn their application for a mobile telephone mast outside of the garage at the Garstang Road/Lytham Road junction. We understand they now require a taller mast and may submit a fresh planning application.

27 January 2004


Hutchison have applied for planning permission to build a 15m high telecommunications tower with 3 antennae, radio equipment housing and ancillary development on Grass Verge (South of Roundabout with Tanterton Hall Road) Tom Benson Way.

The nearby council notice asks that anyone wishing to make representations about the application should write to Mr. P P Davis, Assistant Director (Planning), The Planning Department, Development Control Section, Lancastria House, Lancaster Road, Preston, PR1 2RH by 4 February 2004, quoting reference ADPN/06/2004/0032.

26 January 2004


The Lancashire Evening Post reports on increased demand for mobile phone masts over the county and in Fulwood.

    Fighting the mast invasion

23 January 2004


Two sample letters of objection to the Orange planning application for a mobile phone base station at the Garstang Road/Lytham Road junction. The samples are for possible use as templates and/or to give you ideas. Do not copy! A letter of objection should express your own thoughts in your own way.

    shell_garage_01     shell_garage_02

If you do use one of the letters as a template don't forget to add your own name and address and modify, as appropriate, the references and destination address.

22 January 2004


Orange Personal Communications Services Ltd. (Orange) have applied for planning permission to erect mobile phone masts close to three road junctions:

    Sharoe Green Lane/Sherwood Way (grass verge, NE corner)
    Garstang Road/Lytham Road (footpath adjacent to the Shell garage)
    Black Bull Lane/Boys Lane/Kings Drive (footpath near the chemists)

All three applications are for an 11m pole with three antennas, a cabinet and ancillary equipment. If you wish to object to any of these applications please write to:

    Mr. P P Davis
    Assistant Director (Planning)
    Preston City Council
    Environmental Services Directorate
    Lancastria House
    77/79 Lancaster Road
    Preston
    PR1 2RH.

Give the appropriate reference and ensure your letter arrives by the date indicated:

    Sharoe Green Lane … Reference ADPN/06/2003/1408 by 21/01/04
    Garstang Road …        Reference 06/2003/1406/PJC by 30/01/04
    Black Bull Lane …       Reference ADPN/06/2003/1407 by 27/01/04

You can inspect the full planning applications at Lancastria House. The applications are likely to be considered by the Planning Committee at their Monday 9 February 2004 meeting. Letters of objection received up until 12 noon on Friday 6 February will be noted but are likely to be too late to influence planning department officials in their recommendations to the Planning Committee.

16 January 2004

Earlier News

Pregnant woman wins planning ruling.

In a potential landmark ruling, a judge has said that public concern about health should be taken into account if there is a choice of phone mast sites.

Full PA News story in The Scotsman

Case discussion on BBC Radio 4 You and Yours (Audio, 7 minutes)

3G mobile phone base stations have an adverse affect on health.

"3G Mobile Signals Can Cause Nausea, Headache -Study
Tue 30 September, 2003 21:03 BST

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Radio signals for the next generation of mobile phone services can cause headaches and nausea, according to a study conducted by three Dutch ministries.

The study, the first of its kind, compared the impact of radiation from base stations used for the current mobile telephone network with that of base stations for new third generation (3G) networks for fast data transfer, which will enable services such as video conferencing on a mobile device." ...

3G Mobile Signals Can Cause Nausea, Headache (Reuters report)

Report discussion on BBC Radio 4 You and Yours (Audio, 12 minutes)

Includes interviews with one of the reports authors and residents in Luton who have resorted to metal mesh to protect their homes and avoid adverse health effects.

This report may be a milestone in the health debate. Scientists have found statistically significant adverse affects on well-being that are specifically related to the new 3G mobile phone base stations. The affects are deemed unlikely to be thermal in origin, and thus fall outside of the scope of the UK government's single measure of safety.

Download the Dutch report (1.9Mb).

The Stewart Report

"We were struck by certain inconsistencies and inadequacies in the scientific literature on the biological effects of RF radiation. ... Finally, even for effects that appear to be well substantiated, the biological significance and the implications for health are often unclear." (5.38)

" ... We conclude therefore that it is not possible at present to say that exposure to RF radiation, even at levels below national guidelines, is totally without potential adverse health effects, and that the gaps in knowledge are sufficient to justify a precautionary approach." (6.39)

" ... There is evidence that at the frequencies used in mobile phone technology, children will absorb more energy per kilogram of body weight from an external electromagnetic field than adults ... they will have a longer time in which to accumulate exposure over the course of their lives, and a longer time for any delayed effects of exposure to develop." (6.63)

In effect, the Stewart Report recommends considerable caution when it comes to siting mobile masts near homes.

Surely I don't really need to worry?

Vested interests, including the government, which sold 3G licences for around £20B, would have you believe that health isn't really an issue with mobile phone base stations. If you want to start finding out to what extent we're being conned, if at all, by false assurances then take a look at this synopsis of the dangers.