At Monday’s full council meeting on 28th November 2022, a group of residents attended the meeting. It is always great to see residents from Calne and the surrounding villages attend the meetings, after all, we are here to serve the town and do what we think is in the town’s best interests, based on our knowledge, experience and what the residents want. If only more residents took such interest in how the town is run.
During the public participation session, the “leader” of the group spoke, in relation to the possible health concerns associated with the rollout of 5th Generation Mobile signals. He stated that there are abundant peer-reviewed scientific studies detailing the health and environmental impacts of 5G and as such authorities such as Calne Town Council (CTC) cannot ‘guarantee’ the health and safety of their residents from the uncertain health risks associated with 5G. He also stated that this is new technology and not simply an ‘upgrade’ on 4G.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared 5G safe as has the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Even so, a number of United Kingdom (UK) Town and County councils have adopted a more precautionary principle when it comes to the roll-out of 5G infrastructure (masts and the like), by refusing planning permission (or recommending refusing planning permission). This is because they feel the technology is so new and not enough testing has been done.
Noting that CTC can only make recommendations, as the planning authority is Wiltshire Council, I would like to hear your views on what you think we as CTC should do and consider.
I for one will base my decisions on the facts presented at the time, as well as my experience. I used to work in the telecommunications industry, as well as serving in the military and have worked on high-frequency, high-powered transmitters, whilst they are still powered on. I have known for years that Ironising Radiation is dangerous, but radiation only becomes ironising at about 3 Million GHz, which is well above the Non-Ironising frequencies of 24 to 56 GHz that 5G mobile phone technology will be using.
From the very first Wireless transmission by Marconi in 1897, it has never been proven that Non-Ironising transmissions cause health problems such as Cancer!
I would like to hear your views on what you think we as CTC should recommend refusal of permissions or not? Do you have any evidence that I may not be privy to so that if and when the mobile companies, do ask for permission to put up new sites for 5G, we can make an informed recommendation.
One thing that does need to be made clear. These companies may decide to upgrade an existing installation. If that means no changes to the site footprint and only a few new cells on the tower, they wouldn’t need planning permission, they wouldn’t even need to consult anyone and as a town, we may not even know until it’s switched on!