Thursday, March 23, 2006

Mast Victory?

Good news! The council planning committee has rejected the application to put a new mobile mast up near my kids' school. (See previous post.) Having two local councillors speak on behalf of the campaign and enjoying the support of local MP Tessa Jowell must certainly have helped. This is a victory for local people - 600 of whom signed the petition.
But (you knew there was going to be a 'but', didn't you?) it was rubbing salt into the chip on my shoulder when I saw a copy of the original application. My block of flats was specifically mentioned as not being available for any new installation as there's one there already! Yet that one went up without so much as a whisper of protest. It seems some people have more rights than others. Or maybe they just have the best tactics ...
I should emphasise that as a mobile user I'm aware that I need the masts as much as anyone and know they have to go SOMEWHERE. But as I understand it, these particular installations are to enable people to use their mobiles to send video clips. How essential is that? Sufficiently to justify possible damage to health? Maybe they're safe. Maybe these new ones are no more dangerous than the old ones. Maybe simply using a mobile in the first place is unsafe. But surely no one could argue that the research (independent research - not done by anyone who has a stake in the outcome) should come FIRST ...
Meanwhile I'm left to fictional ways to fix my angst. In Me John and a Bomb, Jen and co do a great job of sabotaging a mast on top of a tower block. Go, Jen!

2 comments:

Sharon J said...

Glad to hear it, Debi.

I'm curious about John and The Bomb (and you?) so am going to have to get it. My poor bookshelf is going to have a real groan when I add yet another to the shelf of "will read when have enough time" pile.

~Sharon xx

Debi said...

I wish you COULD get hold of it now! But it's not available yet - my agent's currently trying to get a deal with publishers for Me, John and a Bomb and the previous book, De Nada Nirvana. Meanwhile, for more info re this and my other books (including the two that HAVE already been published) check out my website. And please apologise to your bookshelf on my behalf! Maybe your bookshelf and mine should get together in a chatroom sometime so thay can have a whinge about us both ...