An investigation into the future of Mobile Phone masts and Aerials on some of Weir Estates blocks has taken a major step forward this week, following a output audit by Communications Regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom).

WERA is conducting its biggest ever inquiry into the safety of the masts, based on all available published reports and evidence; as well as an audit of the radiation output from various locations around the estate. The inquiry seeks to decide whether the masts should be allowed to remain in place or if they should be removed should there be any evidence of risk to the health of residents.

An Ofcom radio engineer set up equipment in areas such as outside the Weir Link Centre and in other public areas such as the play park to measure the level of frequency being emitted from the masts. The engineer will produce a report which will give the levels of output from the masts and the base stations, which are situated on Dan Bryant House and Jewell House operated by mobile phone operators Orange and T-Mobile.
There has been a history of concerns surrounding the safety of masts and there supposed link to cancer in humans.
However, recent case studies from various respected university professors such as the Stewart Report and other professional organisations have dismissed the claims with a most recent study by the imperial College, London dismissing a connection to child cancer.

The masts give out a diagonal signal which is measured in Hertz (Hz) travel out in Electromagnetic Waves.

The Audit carried out this week will form a vital part of a report to be published by WERA’s Chair, later this year before the association makes a decision on the masts future. The report will also focus on all the known evidence available to make a recommendation to the association.

The masts contracts have come up for renewal and in the current economic climate, and the pending decision from the association, the contracts will not be re-negotiated. The Audit took two measurements at each site on friday to determine the levels at ground level. Once the report from Ofcom is available, WERA will then hand this over to The Health Protection Agency for evaluation. The report by the Telecommunications regulator will also be available on their website, once this is published we will also add this to the WERA website, and send out an email to residents with a link to the information.

Chair, Dave McEvoy was present throughout the tests and will be using the data to compile the WERA Mast Report. Dave said “This is a very significant audit of the masts, the first ever carried out on Weir Estate. This is fundamental to determining whether we can allow them to remain here. It is important that we look at all the facts and evidence to make an informed decision and I will publish a comprehensive a report to the association with a recommendation whatever the outcome based on the facts should be.”

Ofcom only carry out about one hundred site audits throughout the country. The report into the masts is expected to be available within the next few months. Now the audit has been carried out by an independent body, one of the main corner stones to the conclusions of the WERA investigation as the association seeks to answer the concerns of residents.

A third mobile operator is also seeking to place further masts on top of one of the estate blocks which will not take place until after the verdict by WERA’s report and decision.

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Notes: The device used by the field engineer to measure the radio frequency (RF) exposure,  is called a isotropic field probe.