Resident protests against antenna

Reinhard Frick, a German resident in Gharb, has written to the local council about the Vodafone antenna recently installed on the roof at 20, St Peter's Street, not more than 50 metres from his home.

The Gharb council has copied the letter to Vodafone Ltd, requesting the antenna's removal within 15 days.

Mr Frick explained how, having undergone treatment for cancer, last November he decided to move to his house in Gozo to recover. Being sensitive to weather conditions and changes, he expressed his concern at being directly exposed to the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the antenna. Electromagnetic radiation of mobile phone base stations is known to cause non-thermal effects on cell-development and tumor cells.

He also explained that children suffering from cancer have been taken for outings in the area may be currently at risk due to radiation from the antenna.

In his letter Mr Frick also referred to the base station on top of the Arcadia building in Victoria, which is very close to the school complex. Mobile phone companies abroad usually do not install antennae near school buildings, he said.