Phone mast could be built outside Grantham Hospital
Wednesday, 10.35am - A MOBILE phone base station could be built outside Grantham Hospital under plans being considered by Vodafone.
Wednesday, 10.35am - A MOBILE phone base station could be built outside Grantham Hospital under plans being considered by Vodafone.The company plans to build a 12m (39ft) high column topped with four antennas, taking it to a height of 14.3m (47ft), on the pavement otuside staff accommodation in Progress Way, off Manthorpe Road.
Vodafone says the base station is needed to provide 3G coverage in the area.
The firm is asking local councillors, schools, the hospital and residents for their views before submitting plans to South Kesteven District Council.
Coun Ray Wootten, who represents the area and is against the proposal, has until October 3 to feed back residents' views to Vodafone.
He said: "Vodafone is saying this is not going to be detrimental to the visual amenity but this will be over 40ft high - it's not small by any means.
"I would ask anyone with any views on this to contact me or Coun Graham Wheat as soon as possible so we can meet the deadline."
Vodafone considered installing telecoms equipment at two other sites nearby - on the roofs of Grantham Hospital and Central Technology and Sports College.
The hospital site was rejected as United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust has decided not to enter into any new lease agreements with telecoms companies unless there are exceptional circumstances. T-Mobile and O2 already have equipment on the hospital roof.
The school option was discounted because it would be unlikely to provide adequate coverage.
Vodafone insists their base stations pose no health risk to the public.
A spokesman said: "All of our base stations are designed, built and operated in accordance with stringent international guidelines laid down by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection.
"Typical public exposures from our base stations will be many hundreds, if not thousands, of times below these guidelines.
"In March 2007, an Irish Independent Expert group concluded that exposures from radio base stations "are so low as to make it immaterial where masts are located with respect to schools, playgrounds, health centres or other places where children gather.""
Last week, O2 submitted plans to build a similar base station opposite The Meres leisure centre in Trent Road, Grantham.
To submit your views on the Manthorpe Road plans contact Coun Wootten at r.wootten@southkesteven.gov.uk or Coun Wheat at g.wheat@southkesteven.gov.uk
Do you think base stations should be sited near hospitals, schools and residential areas? Click here to e-mail your view or text 81800. Start your message with GJCOMMENTS followed by your message - and please include your name and address. Texts cost 25p plus the standard network charge.
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Friday 03 September 2010
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