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Date: 15 March 2004
To: Haydn Smith, Assistant Director, Health and Housing Services, Worthing Borough Council
Subject: Woodside Road
Dear Mr Smith
Thank you for your letter regarding events around Woodside Road.
Whether or not predictive research into the likely effects of TETRA has been allowed by Government sources to become a source of concern, you seem to miss the point. I have your report to the Executive and intend to listen to your debate on 22 March. Your recommendations are:
(i) that the Home Office should hurry up with its research, and
(ii) that Ofcom should audit the Woodside Road site for cumulative effects of microwave radiation.
Regarding the first, there is no epidemiological element in this research on populations experiencing ill health in the vicinity of these masts, though many such populations exist around the UK. The only epidemiological element is a 15 year study of volunteer police officers. (Quite how the other police officers not taking part are being nonetheless allowed to use this equipment in the meantime I can't understand. You can trial a new drug on a group of people, but not whilst simultaneously giving it to the rest of the population!)
This research is therefore investigating mechanisms, not effects; inputs, not outcomes.
Regarding the second, we are only just beginning to have concerns about the proliferation of masts in our back gardens. TETRA is different, and measurements of the overall intensity of microwaves has nothing at all to do with the pulsing effect that we most suspect to be causing the problems, and the way it could be interfering with our brains.
An Ofcom audit may therefore be interesting, but is otherwise irrelevant.
When I say you are missing the point, I don't intend to be rude. But the point is, people are suffering medical conditions coinciding with the location and activation of a particular mast. All we are asking you to do is to establish that there is a link or not.
We are beyond the stage of anxiety and of (so kindly) having our "fears allayed". People are suffering unusual and consistent medical symptoms today and every day since 26 February when the mast was switched on.
Please don't get bogged down in your impotence over planning issues. Health and Housing means just that. Our health, our housing, your responsibility. Instead of wringing your hands because the Government insists that TETRA is safe, get over here to our homes and find out what IS going wrong. That's what you are elected and paid to do.
yours most sincerely
Andy Davidson
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