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Power lines: Trentham Environmental Action Campaign
The Trentham Environmental Action Campaign was formed in January 1997 because of growing concerns of serious illnesses that are occurring in residents living near to high voltage overhead powerlines in Trentham.
The group campaigned for three and a half years, raising around £8,000 from activities such as coffee mornings, fashion shows, garden parties, car washes, casino nights and many other activities.
In September 1998 we submitted an application to the DTI to ask for a review of the consent for the section of overhead line in Trentham. The Secretary of State turned down the request for a review in March 2000, but we continued to campaign.
We have been the focus of many television and radio interviews in this country, but also in a national television Documentary in Australia, which has had a wide impact in Australia of the potential adverse health effects from overhead powerlines.
As a group we will continue to put pressure on the government until they recognise what we know to be serious health risks associated with overhead powerlines.
Recent evolving scientific evidence such as we have seen in the California Health Department Report is explosive and shows no doubt; but unfortunately it is falling on deaf ears in government, so we put together a package of evidence, including our own summary of health risks, to enlighten all MPs of the seriousness of this issue. We handed over a parcel containing 658 letters at the House of Commons on 16th January 2002.
It is clear that action groups such as ourselves will have to be the public watchdog. We will use our own informative action, concentrating on public awareness, of all issues, in the absence of Government generally.
The Trentham Action Group has conducted three controlled surveys locally, all of which showed a significant increase of illnesses of people living within close proximity to the powerlines compared to people living further away.
The Action Group is a member of the government stakeholder advisory group on EMFs (SAGE).
Maureen Asbury
- www.revolt.co.uk/trentham for further information
