Thank you Howard Price for your letter regarding evidence to suggest it is hazardous to live near a TETRA mast (SNJ 19th Feb). There have been some experiments which have demonstrated a biological effect from exposure to such radiation, but the scientific community remains divided. The point is that there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate that it is safe, as would be required for a new drug.

It is the Government which is seeking to install TETRA, but their very own Chief Advisor, Professor Lawrie Challis, says ‘It is not possible to say it is not totally without health risk. We don’t know everything we would like to about possible biological effects or even adverse health risks.’ Would you like to be a guinea pig? Public concern is a valid reason to refuse planning permission.

As for the alternative, there is a system called TETRAPOL, which is cheaper, more reliable and does not operate close to brainwave frequency as does TETRA.

I hope this makes it clearer to Howard Price why the Green Party is calling for more independent research and that masts be sited away from populated areas until we understand them better.

Steve Penny