Bad vibes! Phone mast threat to hippy haven

IT describes itself as a rural retreat for those with an allergy to modern life.

The EarthSpirit Centre offers sanctuary to people who claim to suffer illness triggered by electromagnetic radiation from TVs, mobiles, power lines and Wi-Fi.

But now its owner is horrified at plans to install a 60ft phone mast in a neighbouring field. Telefonica, which owns O2, has submitted the proposal for the small village of Compton Dundon, near Glastonbury in Somerset, in an effort to boost poor reception in the area.

David Taylor, 59, has run the EarthSpirit Centre for 25 years, treating sufferers of electromagnetic hypersensitivity and other ailments. He says the mast will be only about 300 yards from the centre, where many guests stay in yurts and caravans.

‘This area has outstanding natural beauty,’ he said. ‘People come here to escape this kind of thing. People who are electrosensitive can’t be near phone masts.

‘They get headaches, ringing in their ears, it makes them irritable. They feel out of sorts, all they want to do is go and lie down in bed.

‘We’ve got one lady in the village who is electrosensitive and she will need to sell up because she won’t be able to live here if the mast goes up. She moved here to escape modern technology. It will stop people coming here to enjoy the scenery and the nearby nature reserves.’

Mr Taylor claims signals emitted by the mast could also harm bees, bats and a 1,700-year-old yew tree. He has started an action group, Compton Dundon Residents Against the Mast, calling on South Somerset District Council to reject the plans. Somerton and Frome MP David Warburton and many residents also oppose the mast.

Caroline Williams, who runs holiday accommodation, said: ‘People love coming to stay here. It’s so beautiful here, and the mast will ruin that.’ One resident, who asked not to be named, is concerned the mast could trigger a recurrence of his daughter’s leukaemia.

He said: ‘The specialist doctor who treated her warned us that exposure to the signals emitted by telecommunication masts and electricity pylons could trigger a relapse. We are very worried.’

Experts are sceptical about whether electromagnetic fields are harmful. Hypersensitivity is not an officially recognised condition and some doctors have suggested the symptoms are triggered by stress.

Telefonica and Vodafone, which intend to share coverage from the mast, have yet to respond to villagers’ concerns.