EAST Hampshire District Council has asked the government to call a halt to the erection of masts for the new radio communication system for the police, TETRA, until it has been proved totally safe.
TETRA - terrestrial trunked radio - is being installed throughout England and Wales to provide the police with state-of-the-art communications.
Writing to the minister of state for housing and planning, leader of EHDC, Elizabeth Cartwright, said: ÒThis council has given planning permission for eight masts and it has caused a great outcry from East Hampshire residents, who have huge concerns over the radiation emitted by such masts.
ÒMy council felt obliged to follow the guidance in PPG8 and permit the applications. But the public feels that until the outcome of the further research is known, that a grave risk to public health may be being perpetrated. They would prefer a moratorium on the further erection of such masts until they have been proved to be totally safe.Ó
Questions were also raised at Liss Parish CouncilÕs recent meeting. Mrs Cartwright, who is also also a member of Liss Parish Council, said that the district, as planning authority, could not take health and safety into consideration on planning applications but had written to the minister asking for clarification on the guidelines and pointing out the great concern there was in the district.