Cancer deaths spark mobile mast bid

20 June 2008 05:20pm

Residents are campaigning against a mobile phone mast close to their homes, over fears cancer deaths could be related to its presence.

Since 2001, 14 people living within 400 metres of the mast have died of cancer, according to residents.

Locals say that the mast, erected in 1995 on a disused water tower on the High Acres estate in Kingswinford, West Midlands, should not have been placed close to children's playing fields and their homes.

Wendy Baggott, 52, who lives in Bartic Avenue, around 250 metres away from the mast, leads the protest group against it.

When the retired NHS auditor and her husband Clive began looking into four cancer-related deaths on their road, residents told them of the other deaths in the area.

Mrs Baggott said of the mast: "We want rid of it. We are not against phone masts but we are in favour of sensible siting. It is not sensible siting, it's bang in the middle of a residential area."

She added: "We are not saying that it causes cancer. It isn't proved or disproved. What we are saying is that it is a concern."

Mr Baggott must go for regular checks after twice developing skin cancer, she added.

In May, tests by Ofcom, the communications watchdog, found radiation emissions from the mast to be the highest recorded in England this year, but 5,000 times below the safe exposure limits.

Campaigners argue that they were not consulted over the erection of the mast and that radiation guidelines are lower overseas.

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