A history of controversy

MOBILE phone use has rocketed since they became available in the mid 1980s, with 89.9 million mobile subscriptions now taken on in the UK.

However, the locating of masts and claims of health risks has beset the massive expansion with controversy.

As recently as 2012 neurophysiologist Dr Keith Baxendale called for a ban on masts within a mile of all schools, nurseries and residential areas to protect child health

The scientist claimed the situation was so serious that the Scottish Government should take immediate action to ban masts in places where children congregate.

At the time he said: “Phone firms say there is no effect but what if they are wrong?

“We don’t want to get to the stage where we find out 10 or 20 or 30 years down the line that they were wrong.’

Dr Baxendale claimed that radio frequency radiation had an adverse effect on the nervous system and he wanted phone companies to stop putting up masts until this had been fully investigated.

However, according to Cancer Research UK masts are unlikely to pose a health risk.

The organisation’s website says: “Mobile phone masts and base stations were included in 2012 safety review.

“It found no convincing evidence the radiation they gave off could affect health. The exposure from a base station is usually a hundred times below international guidelines.”