Mobile phone mast
There is a possibility that a mobile phone mast could be installed in place of one of the floodlights at the tennis courts. A drone may be flying in the area on Thursday afternoon to establish if it would give useful coverage. The drone is fully licensed for this work.
This is just a feasibility study. No decision has been taken about agreeing to have a mast installed. This would be subject to normal planning regulations and would require the Parish Council to agree to lease the small piece of ground the mast would stand on.
If it appears that a mast would be technically feasible the Parish Council will request more detail about what the mast would look like and the benefits would be. They will then use the blog to share this information and ask for comments before any decision is made.
Andrew Martin
Clerk RFO. Parwich Parish Council
e-mail: clerk@parwichparishcouncil.org.uk
tel: 01335 216238
address: Fernlea, Parwich, Ashbourne, DE6 1QJ
PARWICH.ORG 
Thank you for the information about the phone mast, Andrew.
In advance of the possibility of any feasibility study, I would like to express my concerns. I would be interested to know how this has come about.
Even though the phone signal in Parwich is pretty poor, o2 being by far the best, it is surprising that anyone, apart from a mobile phone company, is contemplating a mast so close to recreational and residential areas of the village, particularly when the school use the field for sports lessons, and there are so many children living in the near vacinity.
O2 does work inside the house, and the TuGo app gives free mobile calls and texts over the wifi. It is not worth the risk to even think about putting up a mast in the centre of the village. Inconvenienced visitors won’t have to deal with the consequences.
Mobile phone masts cause cancer. Not surprisingly, both cancerresearch.org and the nhs.org dismiss the threat, stating that the levels are well within accepted limits. Also unsurprisingly, anecdotal evidence suggests otherwise.
Just Google ‘Do mobile phone masts cause cancer?’ and you will find both sides of the story, with some interesting scientific research.
There are numerous resports of cancer hotspots around these masts, and it would be tragic to lose more of our precious friends and their children in a small community already touched by too many health tragedies.
Whilst appreciating that most of us use mobile phones and microwaves, etc. It is the consistent and chronic effects of the masts that pose an enormous danger. The waves can’t be heard, but within our small village it will be like being bombarded with a pneumatic drill of waves that can penetrate an inch into the cells of our bodies and damage them, having an effect on our immune systems, giving us migranes, diabetes, MS and cancer. The further away you are there is less effect, but it’s all relative, and all of Parwich would be within its grasp.
I am trying to take resposibilty for my own health in more ways than one but, if this goes ahead, all my efforts will be wiped out in one fell swoop!
There is too much at stake. No amount of money or convenience is worth the trauma that this may bring.
I will protest personally against this to protect my family, friends and the wellbeing of all in our precious village.
I have a feeling that I won’t be standing alone.
I agree with Di Turnbull. Carolyn Green
I also have concerns regarding the location and possible health risks.
I do not know who the mobile company is who is wanting to put up a mast , but I may have an alternative site for the mast that would be far enough away from the village not to cause concern. . If the powers that be would like to contact me , i would be prepared to talk with them as long as it would benefit the village, and not cause any health issues.
Given this is a potentially contentious topic, I commend the Parish Council for trying to keeping everyone informed even at this early stage.
It is difficult to know what view to have at this stage, given we are all happy to use mobile phones even though this necessitates mobile phone masts be placed somewhere. Also we already have an awful lot of other sources of electromagnetic radiation about that don’t seem to raise concerns: there is the TV booster just to the south west of the village; there are the two W3Z boasters in Smithy Lane and Creamery Lane; and a significant number of households now have wifi spilling out of the buildings.
I suppose at this early stage, the first question is would a mast here be feasible? And only then we need to ask what are the potential befits of an additional income to the Parish Council and an improved mobile phone signal (will all networks be improved?). Then in turn offset this against potential costs in terms of the appearance of a mast and health risks to residents (would there be an additional risk linked to proximity to the mast over and above the current risks of general background signals and of the phones we carry with us?),
The Council has yet to consider whether to support any proposal. It has been minuted that residents would be consulted before they did so. At the moment they are waiting to receive information that can be shared as part of this process.
Again, as minuted, it is the company Shared Access who are seeking a site not the Parish Council. Any contact between landowners and Shared Access about siting masts would be a private matter not involving the Parish Council (other than their statutory right to be consulted about any subsequent planning application).
I completely agree with Di Turnbull and thank the Parish council for letting us know. A mast in such proximity to my home would be enough to make me move house. One of the attractions of this village is a lack of such masts and pylons.