Telecommunication regulator, Ofcom has published its report following an audit of the Mobile Phone masts on Weir Estate which has now been received by Executive Officers at Weir Estate Residents Association.

The report will form a fundamental part of a enquiry into the future of the masts and base stations situated on two estate blocks and the prospect of any future installations of telecommunications aerials on Weir Estate in the future.

The WERA enquiry is considering all the evidence and facts available in order to make an informed recommendation to residents on whether they should they remain and the level of impact or threat on residents long term health. The report carried out by independent regulator Ofcom, has indicated low levels of radiation output throughout the report will now have to be concluded by another external body, The Health Protection Agency responsible for the safety and wellbeing of the public such as mobile phone masts.

In the report, six areas where covered during the audit in areas identified as being significantly affected by the signal coming from the masts.

Residents have raised concerns about the masts following years of speculation that they cause long term health effects in humans; such as cancer, despite numerous studies to the contrary. However, the inquiry will specifically consider whether the mast pose any risk to residents. The contracts on some of the Masts have expired and these will not be re-negotiated until after the WERA report is published in the new few months.

The highest reading taken from masts was found outside The Weir Link reception area at nearly one forty five thousandth of the internationally agreed limit set following recommendations by a highly regarded Professor in the field known as the Stewart report published a few years ago. Though this report does suggest caution in its findings at the time.

WERA will then hold a meeting open to all residents to publish its report and open the matter up for in-depth discussion before a verdict is decided by members and residents.

Dave McEvoy, who is carrying out the WERA investigation, assured residents “We are looking at every aspect of the evidence available, this Ofcom report is pivotal to our enquiry and a major step forward. We will publish a full and frank report to our association and take informed decisions based on the facts and evidence. I am confident that the findings by Ofcom and review of these by the HPA will provide a significantly clear picture to allow us to do this.”

The Ofcom report will be made available on the Ofcom website as well as being available from the association. The report can be viewed here

The six sites across the estate are listed as Play Area Outside Quennel House, Atkins Road Outside Glanville House, Outside The Weir Link Nursery, Weir Road Outside Dan Bryant House (the site of one of the mast locations), Grass Area behind Jewell House (the second location of masts on Weir Estate) and Outside The Weir Link Reception.

The report has now been submitted for review by the Health Protection Agency and a response to that is anticipated in the near future.