News

Residents in Lambeth are being asked to sign an online petition for funding promised under the previous government for upgrades to Kitchens and Bathrooms in residents homes.

There are fears that Lib Dem/Tory Coalition Government may refuse to honour the previous commitment to providing social housing providers in Lambeth to the sum of £233 million to help improve stock for families often living in poor conditions.

Weir Estate Residents Association supports this epetition and asks our residents to sign the epetition which can be found here.

The closing date is fast approaching, make sure you sign the petition before it closes on Monday 6th September.

Independent health watchdog, the Health Protection Agency has ruled the output from mobile phone masts are well below international agreed limits set by International Commission on Non-ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and pose no threat to residents living on Weir Estate.

Based on a report carried out by telecommunication regulator, Ofcom of the signals being omitted from the masts in key areas around Weir Estate have confirmed that the signal is so minimal that there is no risk to resident’s health and that they are safe.

Weir Estate Residents Association sent the Ofcom findings to the Health Protection Agency, as so they can evaluate the data and provide an expert analysis. The HPA which protects the UK publics health through the provision of support and advice to the NHS, local authorities, emergency services, other Arms Length Bodies, the Department of Health and the Devolved Administrations. The Agency was established as a special health authority (SpHA) in 2003. The HPA Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards comprises the Radiation Protection Division (formerly the National Radiological Protection Board) and the Chemical Hazards and Poisons Division who studied the Ofcom report. The headquarters for the Centre is based at Chilton in Oxfordshire.   As part of their work they have access to radiation scientists and experts. It is these experts who have ruled that the signal poses such minimal risk that there is no threat to those living close to the masts or the general public on Weir Estate.

These findings and other evidence will be collated into a report compiled by WERA and presented to residents, at a public meeting in order to decide the future of the masts.
A handful of residents have raised concerns about the long term effects of exposure to the ‘radiation’ levels coming from the mobile phone masts and base stations operated by operators T-Mobile and Orange. These fears have been based on what are not believed to be unfounded speculation.  The signal is also weakened by obstacles such as brick, metal and glass.

Though there are always studies into the affects from mobile phone masts particularly with the media stating there is a link to cancer, there has been no evidence to support this and all current scientific and medical studies available contradict this. This is further supported by no reports of any reports of residents complaining of ill effects despite the masts being in place for ten years.

In their statement to WERA, the HPA said ‘We have looked at the Ofcom survey report and can confirm that the radio signal field strengths that Ofcom are quoting are well below the health guidelines of the International Commission on Non-ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). These are the recognised guidelines in the UK that all the mobile phone operators have adopted and adhere to. The balance of scientific evidence to date suggests that exposures to radiofrequency (radio signals) below ICNIRP guidelines do not cause adverse health effects to the general population.’

The masts and base stations on two blocks on Weir Estate have provided an income for estate improvements following efforts by previous association administrations that the income goes towards improving Weir Estate for residents and not just into Lambeth Council. Though WERA assure residents this is not the catalyst to the masts remaining.

WERA’s new Vice Chair Rohema Khanom said of the findings “I have always found the notion that mobile masts are detrimental to health absolutely absurd. The Ofcom report clearly illustrate that the levels are far lower than the agreed level of radiation that may possibly cause harm.’

She added to reassure residents “I am pleased the report clearly shows that WERA would not knowingly put the health of residents before any financial gain, and that we have always tried to reassure some of our weary residents that we are indeed trying to do the best we can for Weir estate.’

WERA will present its findings to residents at an open meeting and seek to reach a conclusive decision on whether the masts can stay but have stated previously this must be based on facts and evidence not speculation or scare mongering. WERA has also invited anyone with any evidence for or against the masts to contact the Association and this will be considered as part of the final report.

The conclusion by the Health protection Agency and the data obtained from the estate Ofcom Survey will now form a cornerstone of the final report set to be published later this year as WERA continues to gather as much facts and data as possible.

As part of plans to cut public spending, the coalition government have recently announced that the HPA could be scrapped and form part of a new commissioning board.