Pregnancy Test and Telecom Masts

12.00.00am GMT Mon 10th Nov 2003

The case of a pregnant woman (Jodie Phillips) who won a court case against Hutchinson 3G over a telecoms mast has given hope to other mast protestors. The government planning inspectorate is being forced to look at the wider implications. The Health Minister is undertaking a fresh review of the health impacts.

A local controversy has erupted over a similar case. Local resident Philippa Hearn of Hanworth Road, who is four months pregnant, is objecting to a mast being erected directly outside her house (6 metres from her home) by British Telecom (O2).

Vincent Cable has written to the council to protest that the company is proceeding without proper consent; and to BT to complain that they are acting in a socially irresponsible manner: "apparently they are digging a hole without permission, having obtained approval two years ago for a site quite some distance away. The bigger issues of health concerns are growing rather than diminishing as a source of public concern and the government would be well advised to order a moratorium until its new health study is complete".