Police masts opposed

Campaigners say they have safety concerns about the new masts

Councillors in Swansea are opposing plans for new police radio equipment at two locations on Gower.

They have concerns about the safety of the Tetra system that will be used by police forces across the UK, although are objecting to the masts on the grounds that they are visually intrusive.

Air Wave MMO2 Ltd wants to site antennae on an existing mast at Southgate Sewage Treatment Works at Pennard and at North Hills Farm at Cheriton.

The company says the equipment is needed to ensure police radios are able to operate on all parts of the peninsular.

Please keep Gower the unspoilt and safe place that it is at the moment

Campaigner Virginia Pritfy

At a planning meeting on Tuesday Swansea councillors heard the mast at the sewage works was less than half-a-mile from Pennard Primary School.

Speaking on behalf of objectors Liz Radcliffe said: "We are not Nimbys as we already have three masts but until there is proof it is safe Tetra should not be in our midst."

Although hailed as cutting-edge technology, some experts have raised health concerns about the new transmitters the radio system requires.

Tetra masts pulse at 17.6Hz which is very close to the 16Hz frequency the government's Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones warns might affect brain activity.

Virginia Pritfy spoke for those campaigning against the mast at Cheriton.

She said: "Nobody will guarantee these masts are safe.

"Seven children under the age of 10 are living near the proposed mast.

"Please keep Gower the unspoilt and safe place that it is at the moment."

Councillor Richard Lewis told the meeting: "I do not believe the case has been made for it in terms of safety."

Both applications were turned down by a majority of councillors although not all agreed with the decision.

Councillor Mark Child said: "I bet a lot of the teachers at the school have got mobile telephones and I bet a lot of the parents have got mobile telephones.

"I believe that the people there do not really believe that mobile telephones are a danger to them.

"There are many things around us that are infinitely more dangerous than masts."

And a spokesman for Airwave said the masts were needed if Gower was to be fully covered by police communication.

"The application is needed to ensure that South Wales Police have coverage for a new integrated communication system.

"The system is not new and untried but is in use in 46 countries."

He accused campaigners and the media of scaremongering over the alleged health risks.

Even though councillors have opposed the applications the equipment may still be installed as the final decision rests with the Welsh assembly.

Speaking after the meeting Cheriton campaigner Virginia Pritfy said: "We are very pleased but there is still a long way to go and we will have to see what the assembly say."