Parents fear for kids' health (From Penarth Times)

Parents fear for kids' health

PENARTH residents fearing for their children's health have set up an urgent petition against plans for a phone mast just metres away from a local nursery.

Homeowners living in Raisdale Gardens are up in arms about T-Mobile's proposal for a three cross polar pole mounted antenna, four transmission dishes and ancillary equipment to go in a Portasilo cabin at Waverley Private Care Centre.

It comes just months after they battled T-Mobile's (then One2One) original plans for a two metre structure to go in the same place, near to the Hazelhurst Nursery. Those plans would also have seen the equipment cabin on the roof instead of on the ground.

They say any phone mast applications being considered by the Vale of Glamorgan Council should be deferred immediately, pending further investigation into the health risks.

Residents Jean Williams and Margaret Phellps have collected 50 signatures on a petition, and are positive that they will get more.

Mrs Williams said: "We are worried about the health risks. The Waverley already has two masts. But apart from that, it's a beautiful area. If you walk along the Cliff Top the phone masts on top of buildings look really ugly.

"We're also worried there are going to be more masts. They could have goodness knows how many up there."

Mrs Williams pleaded with the National Assembly to set some firm guidelines for planners to follow when discussing applications.

She said: "At the moment we're stuck in a situation where the Assembly does not want to put down firm guidelines as they don't want to tie their hands.

"As a result, planners don't have guidelines to follow.

"They can only comment on siting and appearance."