A CAMPAIGN has been launched to warn people in the Petersfield area of major health hazards which could be posed by a new network of communication masts for the emergency services.

Already East Hampshire District Council has given permission for at least four of the new masts – one right in the centre of Petersfield at the telephone exchange – and more are in the pipeline.

But campaigners are warning that the Terrestrial Trunked Radio system, known as Tetra, could pose a serious danger to the health of local people. They say the new masts are potentially more of a hazard than the existing mobile phone masts, which have been a cause for concern among many for several years. They claim the masts can interfere with the human immune system and cause a range of serious health problems, with children being particularly vulnerable.

And this week scientist Ian Sharp, who has carried out extensive research into the issues, was due to speak to those concerned at a public meeting called by campaigners at Rogate Village Hall on Thursday.

Among those leading the call to raise awareness of the controversial Tetra masts are Duncan and Fiona Petty who live at Brows Farm Cottage in Liss, just 750 metres from where permission was recently granted for a Tetra mast.

The applications for planning permission for the Tetra masts are being made across the country by Airwave mm02 Ltd to provide better communication for the emergency services. Mr Sharp claims that already around 3,000 applications have been made in the country, and so far 200 have been refused on health and safety grounds.

Mr Petty said he was approached by Airwave mm02 earlier this year, with a view to putting a mast in his farmyard. He was told the company wanted to site a mast at a water treatment works next to their land, but it feared negotiations could be lengthy.

"To me one mast was the same as another," Mr Petty told The Herald, "we were not aware that they were so controversial. I went down the road of agreeing terms with Airwave for a temporary period, but I didn't hear any more from them."

Mr and Mrs Petty were then horrified to discover recently, that Airwave had been granted permission on June 4 for the Tetra mast at the water works.

"I am very concerned about this," said Mrs Petty, "we were not consulted and neither were some of our neighbours. It was decided under delegated powers at East Hampshire District Council. We have been a bit naive about this and are still really in the dark about the health issues, but if we had known some of the things in March that we know now we would have said no to Airwave. Until recently we didn't even know that planning permission had been granted so close to our home."

Mrs Petty is concerned that the Tetra mast would be close to her home where she lives with her husband and two young children. It is even closer to homes in Andlers Ash Road and Nursery Road, and Liss infant and junior schools lie behind them.

"This is an untried and untested system of communication, which has been banned in other countries," added Mrs Petty, "it's a huge concern and I am very worried and am working hard to make people in Liss aware because there are huge health issues."

Mr and Mrs Petty have already contacted their parish council and East Hampshire District Council. They have been distributing leaflets in Liss this week urging people to attend the public meeting which was due to take place in Rogate last night.

Hundreds of leaflets have also been

handed out in the Rogate and Rake area

this week. They claim that radiation from

the masts can permeate house walls 24 hours a day.

The leaflet adds: "Low frequency radiation developed during the cold war as a weapon is now marketed as safe for our police communication system. Lancashire police officers are now preparing to sue the Chief Constable over sickness caused by the tetra radio system."

It also claims that Tetra can interfere with electrical medical devices critical to life such as pacemakers and monitoring equipment in ambulances.