Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Norfolk wants escape clause in tower contract

The Editor
Simcoe Reformer
50 Gilbertson Drive
Simcoe (Norfolk County)
Ontario
N3Y 4L2
Dear Editor
I have just been reading the article entitled 'Norfolk wants escape clause in tower contract'. It seems very strange that Norfolk Council should need to add such a clause or even think about renewing the contract. The council have already been provided with a huge amount of information which proves that microwave radiation is highly dangerous, that it causes cancer and many different adverse health effects, yet. they are still willing to allow Bell Mobility to expose the community to great danger.
I am surprised that they don't allow the contract, collect the money and put up a sign saying to the nearby residents - 'We don't give a dam whether you get ill, develop cancer or die. We have the money, we have pleased the corporate giant and you can go to hell'.
Not only was Norfolk Council educated on the dangers and health effects of microwave radiation in their own council chambers, but the process was even televised throughout the community. There is a clear record of council's special knowledge about the dangers of microwave radiation.
Norfolk Council have already shown that they are not interested in the health and welfare of the citizens of Simcoe, with the shameful actions they took by allowing the Rogers cell phone antennas to stay on the Simcoe water tower. They have also shown that they are not fit to represent the health and safety interests of their own constituents.
I dare Norfolk Council to provide the same information about the adverse health effects of microwave radiation, that they were provided with previously, to the citizens of Port Dover and let them make their own decision as to whether the contract is renewed.
Martin Weatherall
RR3, Bright, Ontario
N0J 1B0
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Norfolk wants escape clause in tower contract

Simcoe Reformer
Updated 16 days ago

Norfolk County is exercising more caution in its approach to cellphone towers.

Last week, Bell Mobility was asked to accept a clause in a county contract which would require the company to remove its cellphone infrastructure from the Port Dover water tower if evidence emerges that microwave radiation poses a threat to public health. Lawyers for the county and Bell Mobility are reviewing the request.

"It's not just a matter of putting those words in there," Bernie Dawtrey, Norfolk's manager of environmental services, said yesterday. "They become part of the legal document."

Bell Mobility recently notified Norfolk that it wants to upgrade cellphone transmitters on the Port Dover water tower. The company's goal is to improve cellphone service in this part of Norfolk.

If the work proceeds, Norfolk's contract with Bell will have to be modified because the space the company occupies will increase significantly. Last week, Norfolk council asked staff to secure a clause pledging Bell to remove the equipment if Health Canada determines that microwave energy related to cellphone use is a hazard to human health.

Dawtrey said Norfolk's legal advisers also want to research the request before committing the plan to paper.

Accusations have dogged Norfolk council in recent years that the Rogers cellphone transmitter on the Simcoe water tower is causing health problems in the area of Elgin Avenue Public School. Council has asked Rogers to consider moving the equipment but the company has declined.

If Bell goes ahead with the modifications in Port Dover, the company's lease fee will rise from $14,000 a year to $17,000 until 2013. This in turn will rise to $20,000 a year from 2013 until the end of the agreement in 2018.