New investigation into phone masts

Jersey's new health minister has called for a further review of the risks of mobile phone masts.

Senator Ben Shenton, who replaced sacked Senator Syvret in the role, called for the review as one of his first priorities.

Previous health and scrutiny reports have advised of no identifiable health threats, but the Minister says it is his duty to provide the public with the most up-to-date advice.

Senator Shenton told Channel Online: "There is research coming forward all the time because of course mobile phones and mobile masts are quite a new technology and although we know there's no short term dangers its only with time we'll know there's no long term dangers."

Five additional masts were due to be approved tomorrow, but that decision's been delayed by the Minister for Planning and Environment, whose defended Senator Shenton's decision.

Planning Minister Freddie Cohen said: "He's perfectly entitled to review any element of policy within his portfolio, this is clearly a matter that he's expressed concern over in the past because he was a member of the scrutiny panel that looked into the health risks of mobile phone masts."

Senator Shenton stated that the review will only take four weeks and it is perfectly reasonable that he should suspend applications until the review is completed, providing it's within a reasonable period.

However mobile phone companies are unhappy with the decision. Steve Smith, from Cable and Wireless, said: "Cable & Wireless is internationally recognised as a responsible operator which takes public health concerns very seriously and we comply fully with the recommendations of the Stewart report on mobile health."