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Statement on Tetra Masts

Derek Rowell, the Strategic Director of Environment Services for the Isle of Wight Council, made the following statement about tetra masts in December 2003:

“The Council is aware that many people have concerns about the broadcast technology known as tetra masts, and their alleged affects on health. Tetra masts are being installed around the country. They are similar to mobile phone masts, but are not for use by the public phone system. They are part of a secure communications system being rolled out to protect police and other emergency services’ messages from being listened to or interfered with. The importance of this for counter-terrorism and crime prevention is self-evident."

"However, concerns remain that this technology, which operates at a lower frequency to ordinary mobile phone transmitters, could be hazardous to health. The council has to take each planning application for this kind of mast on its own merits, and must look to the best guidance available. The current government guidance, as outlined in Planning Policy Guidance 8, stipulates that planners cannot use health concerns as a reason for refusing planning permission providing the proposed equipment falls within the guidelines. The guidance says, 'In the Government’s view, if a proposed mobile phone base station meets ICNRP (International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection) guidelines for public exposure, it should not be necessary for a local planning authority… to consider further the health aspects and concerns about them.'"

Mr. Rowell continued: "All tetra masts on the Island have fallen within these guidelines and the council could not lawfully oppose them on concerns for health. Many people are still not convinced by these guideline figures and the government is spending £7.4 million on research to find out more about the health implications of this new technology. The council welcomes this approach from the government, and urges the local Member of Parliament to join with us in pushing for the results of this research to be made available as soon as possible. When these facts have been made clear, the council will seek the first opportunity to use them as a basis for a policy on the future use of this technology on the Island.”