Health at risk

Our campaign is not an attack on the brigade nor its men and women, it is a campaign against an ill-advised decision that may ultimately put people's health at risk.

Mr Slevin quotes from the Stewart report yet ignores the main conclusions, where it advocates a 'precautionary approach' to siting mobile phone transmitters.

The dictionary definition of precautionary is 'action taken to avoid a dangerous or undesirable event'.

How can the siting of a transmitter in a residential area close to three schools be regarded as a precautionary approach when the long-term effects are unknown.

We have spoken to several firefighters from the station who said they had not been told about the transmitter and were concerned.

In fact, they knew nothing about it until construction had begun.

The National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) guidelines on emissions, set in 1950, relate to electric shock and tissue heating.

They take no account of research that indicates cellular damage causing cancers. The NRPB has endorsed the Stewart report.

Most of us remember the Thalidomide tragedy ,, the result of a product being used widely before long-term research had been carried out. The result has been much misery for the families involved.

If research does prove adverse effects from long-term exposure to emissions it will be too late for people who live near fire stations where the brigade is allowing transmitters to be erected.

John McMinn, Barnet

Residents Action Against Mobile

Telecommunication Towers