Cancer Couple Claim Mast Victory

A couple who both suffered from breast cancer are claiming victory in their battle to have a phone mast moved from its site near their home.

George and Margaret King, who moved to their home in Crowborough, East Sussex in 1997, both had to have mastectomies. They accept there is no proof phone masts cause cancer but say they should not be sited in residential areas.

A spokesman for Vodafone said: "We have agreed to vacate the site provided we can maintain the service locally."

Mrs King developed breast cancer two years after moving to their Church Road home.
Her husband was diagnosed with the disease, which is rare in men, two years later. He also developed eight skin lesions on sites including his ear and nose.

The mobile phone mast is 3m (10ft) from the Kings' garden fence, on land owned by ATS Euromaster.

Mrs King has campaigned for two years to have it moved.

"We enjoy our garden, but we are living constantly under this mast," said Mr King.
"I hope that in the future these masts can be placed away from residential areas - away from homes, schools and hospitals."

New site
ATS ended its licensing agreement with Vodafone two years ago and said it was happy the mast was being moved. Vodafone said it would remove the mast as soon as a new site in the area could be found.

"There is no substantiated evidence that phone masts have adverse effects on people's health," said a spokesman. "Masts must be located where mobile phone users are - where they live, work and travel - in order to provide a service many of us value."
BBC NEWS: 13th March 2006
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/southern_counties/4802346.stm