I am writing to express my strong opposition to the siting of a 15 metre high 3G Telecomms mast at Chalford Sports and Social Club. I understand Hutchison 3G UK Ltd have already applied for planning permission. The location is entirely unsuitable. Apart from the fact that the mast will visually intrude into the views of the Cotswold village of Franch Lynch, which is within an area of outstanding natural beauty, there are also very serious health concerns. Three years ago the Stewart Committee reviewed scientific evidence on 2G phone masts. It recommended that all new base stations should require full planning permission and criticised government advice that health should not be an issue in deciding planning applications. The government has acted irresponsibly in glossing over these findings. It has chosen to ignore the real fears of many residents which have grown all the greater with the recent introduction of 3G technology. 3G is more disruptive to the human system than normal mobile masts. Research has shown in less than half an hour people subjected to 3G emissions become dizzy and nauseous and some can hear the signals. The strength of the signal in that experiment was as little as one thirtieth of that used by some 3G operators. The Green Party argues there is a need for a proper review of health impacts and regulation of mobile phone technology. We should give special attention to protecting populated areas, as Paris has recently done. This proposed mast will be close to houses in Franch Lynch and Chalford Hill. Play groups meet in the Social Club next to the mast and the car park is a place where young children often play. Beyond the car park is the Chalford Hill Primary School Playing Field where there are regular sports matches. We have seen in Dursley over 70 people reported to be suffering from the effects of living close to these masts. I would urge people to write to Stroud District Council at Ebley Mill before with their objections before the end of February.

David Wood, Gloucestershire Green Party

Further info - A recent Dutch study (2003) - quoted in The Ecologist magazine March 2004 - found low levels of mobile phone base-station signals caused cognitive changes and feelings of ill health among two groups of 76 volunteers. They found the largest effects with the new 3G masts - and these were with doses that were very small - much smaller than could occur in masts situated like the one planned at Chalford. The British National Radiological Protection Board admits this is a " carefully conducted, well-designed" study. They dismiss the study though, because a previous study "reported no such effects". However the study that reported no such effects was looking at mobile phones next to peoples heads - very different from chronic exposure to base-station signals at levels more than 10,000 times higher.