Extract from the web site - http://www.johndixon.plaidcymru.org/
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From: JoRoCo
To: john.dixon@plaidcymru.org
Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2007 1:55 AM

Subject: Pre-Election Survey - TETRA


Hello Mr. Dixon,

In response to your web site invitation, I am writing to ask for you comments upon a matter that is very much a local issue,
 a Welsh National issue and a UK wide issue - Electro-Magnetic radiation. I would draw your attention to our community web site -

http://www.penally.org.uk/
and in particular to the Community Council Section: TETRA -

http://www.penally.org.uk/democ.html  click the TETRA option on the menu.

Having due regard to the material referenced, I would ask for you opinion upon:

1) How you see and understand the position in respect of the Penally installation
(particularly in respect of your recent visit to http://www.penally.org.uk/hdtrust.html)

2) How you see and understand the position in respect of your own family environment
(the wider whole of Wales outlook in respect of general safety and in particular, the safety of Emergency Services personnel)

3) The same question as item 2) above, but upon a UK wide aspect.
I will be contacting Welsh Assembly members for their input. 

You will note that the future Conservative candidate, Simon Hart, has already made comment 

Acknowledging the obvious need for a suitable communication system for the Emergency Services, I would draw your attention 
to the reference material and the fact that TETRA is to say at least controversial within the scientific community and is being 
exercised with contempt to any accepted standards of public safety.

This posting will be added to our community web site, along with any comment that you choose to make. We intend to promote 
this matter as an election issue and site details will be circulated to receptive web promotions.

Thanking you in anticipation of an appropriate response.

Regards,

J C Robinson
Penally Resident
From: John Dixon
To: 'JoRoCo'
Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 4:11 PM

Subject: ATB: Pre-Election Survey - TETRA

Dear Mr Robinson,

Fisrtly, apologies for not responding sooner to your request for a statement on this issue.

 
There is some very useful material on this subject on your web site, which I found to be interesting reading.  The technical issues are clearly complex, and scientific opinion is divided on the safety issue in general; but as far as I can see, the argument that we should treat the radiation from such masts as being safe depends to a very large extent on the lack of clear and categoric evidence of danger at the levels and doses of radiation which are involved.  Clearly it is pretty much impossible to be absolutely certain about the safety of anything, but in this particular case, there is evidence that some types of electro-magnetic radiation at large doses can indeed be harmful, and the safety levels are therefore set in terms of an assessed 'safe' dose. 
 
The challenge for politicians and decision-makers is whether we are happy to take decisions on the basis of that level of re-assurance or not.  My own view is that I am not, and I think that we should exercise extreme caution.  For that reason, I have previously called for two specific changes to be made in the way that these masts are given consent.
 
The first is that they should be kept at least 500 metres from the nearest home (and I would apply the same to schools, hospitals, etc.), which ensures that the level of radiation has dropped significantly from the levels which are found in close proximity to the masts.  And the second is that the erection of such masts should be subject to the full rigours of the planning process, rather than the less rigorous rules which currently apply.  I continue to support those steps, and will continue to campaign with my colleagues for such changes to be made to the law.
 
On the specific proposal at Penally, having visited the Harriet Davies Trust house near the site, I have to say that the location is singularly inappropriate, and I shall continue to oppose it.
 
I also attach for information a statement which I issued some months ago on this particular issue.
 
John Dixon, Plaid Cymru

Statement of Mr John Dixon
(As referenced in the above email)

Newyddion / News / Newyddion / News / Newyddion / News

Disappointment over Penally Tetra decision

Plaid Assembly candidate, John Dixon, has expressed his disappointment over the outcome of the appeal on the Tetra mast at Penally. He also re-iterated Plaid's call for a change in the law on the siting of such masts.

Last year, Plaid's Assembly group successfully secured the agreement of an Assembly Committee for a recommendation that all applications for phone masts would be required to go through the full planning process. Unfortunately, the government refused to act on the recommendation at the time.

Mr Dixon said: "Operators are currently able to evade the democratic process with their privileged fast track status through the planning process. It is clear from recent experiences of residents in places such as Penally that there is inadequate consultation. It should be compulsory for applications for new masts to go through the full planning process. This won’t completely ban any new masts, but what it will do is ensure they are sensitively sited. Local communities would have greater confidence in the planning process.

"Until such time as these masts are given a completely clean bill of health, I believe that we should avoid siting them close to people, and particularly avoid buildings which contain people who may be particularly vulnerable such as the sick and children.

"I pledge that, if elected to the Assembly in May, I will campaign on this issue until we succeed in getting the necessary changes enshrined in law. I will campaign for all new masts to be sited at least 500 metres from the nearest dwelling. And I will also campaign for a program of re-siting existing masts to comply with any changes in legislation that we are able to secure. People's voices must be heard, not ignored, in future"

 

For further information, contact: John Dixon 01267 253514 / 07708 185307

john.dixon@plaidcymru.org

www.johndixon.plaidcymru.org
From: JoRoCo
To: John Dixon

Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2007 1:56 AM

Subject: Re: Pre-Election Survey - TETRA

Attention:  Mr. John Dixon
 
Thank you for your reply and enclosure, both of which have now been added to our community web site.
 
Note:  The enclosure was converted to HTML format to ensure that it would display in a standard web browser
 
I am sure that this community will be interested to read your response and the fact that you have taken the time to visit the Wheelabout and appreciate the sad state of affairs imposed by this unwelcome imposition. Since your visit, this installation has become a reality and the scene that you witnessed is even more oppressive. However, at this time the matter is still subject of an appeal in the High Court by concerned parents of profoundly disabled visitors to the Wheelabout, who are very concerned that this unique facility will be lost, due to this invasion of their scarce facilities.  The fact that the installation has been progressed in spite of this appeal appears to be an indication that the installers have reason to believe that the appeal will be denied.
 
I would wish to take this opportunity to promote other avenues of thought and submit the concept that the growing number of electro-sensitive sufferers are being disabled by this type of radiation and therefore that the The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 should apply to them - 
 
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)
defines a disabled person as someone who has a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. (at least 12 months -
http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&siteId=en&ssTargetNodeId=324&ssDocName=DG_4001069 )
 
The fiscal implications of ignoring this prospect are extensive to any Government.
A remedy is simple - stop disabling people with this type of radiation.
The remedy is simple, but not painless (at least to the perpetrators of this problem), but then they should not have been guilty of creating this monster in the first place. If this is not the case, then they should accept the safety requirements of all other industries and prove that it is safe - not enforce the ridiculous requirement upon everyone else to prove that it is not safe.
 
Should you wish to add any further comments, we would be pleased to include them in these listings. 
 
Regards,
 
J C Robinson