PROTESTERS trying to stop a phone mast being built in Pillowell say they will fight to the bitter end – and hint they still have something up their sleeves.
"I'm not prepared to say what it is – all I can say is that it will mean a major problem for Orange," said campaigner Karen Fisher, who says she has brain tumours worsened by mast transmissions.
"All I can say at this stage is we will do everything we are legally able to do."
The Pillowell protesters, faced with having a controversial Tetra mast less than 60 metres from the primary school and an Orange phone mast 50 metres from the playing fields, have been mounting all-day pickets at the Orange site ever since approval was given for its construction by the Forest of Dean District Council. The council is meeting this week on the Tetra issue, with a recommendation from planners that the mast be accepted.
"I was very surprised to learn also that Orange has started a fund for anyone claiming health problems against them – why should they do that if the masts are as harmless as they claim they are?" she said.
She also said there had been no democracy evident over the council's decision to allow the Orange mast. "There was no mention at all of the 270 legitimate objections," she said.
"People are starting to take their children out of the Rising Fives and Playgroup and there have had to be staff layoffs. Pillowell will be faced with having a closed school."
She said their objective was to delay the installation of the mast until there was a full judicial review of the situation.
"We are not saying this technology should be stopped but there are far better places in the Forest for masts a long way from homes – and some even give better coverage."
•John Thomas, on whose land the Orange mast is to be built, has so far made no move to cancel his contract with Orange for the £4,000 a year rent agreed for the site. It has been reported he was about to tear up the contract because he feared damages claims against him.