I see the Nimbys are back in force again over mobile telephone masts (The Argus, April 17).

It constantly astonishes me that people can take to public protest and jump on the anti-mast bandwagon without any real knowledge of the facts.

The particular mast in question is a "street-pole" mast, designed to look similar to a lamp post, and is very low in power.

In effect, it is neither an eyesore (Orange having even painted it in Brighton and Hove City Council green) nor a dangerous health risk.

Having worked in the field of transmitters, I can best explain that the radiation is as minuscule as two AAsize batteries (three to four Watts).

You get more radiation from watching TV or standing in the kitchen near a microwave waiting for your ready meal than you will ever get from a low-power mast many feet from any homes and then having to "penetrate" people's houses.

It is just not feasible to suggest it is a serious risk.

Finally, I wonder how many of the residents pictured would (a) give up their own mobile phones, (b) show any concern for others who have a mast near their home that they use to make calls or (c) object to the mast if it were in their own garden and they were making thousands in ground rent every year?

This is not the only street pole mast in that area that has been erected for more than a year but is not even switched on due to misplaced public concerns.

I would love to see an announcement from a mobile phone company one day to the effect that "due to public concern we will be removing all mobile telephone services in the area, therefore mobile phones will no longer be able to make or receive calls".

I wonder what the public reaction to this would be?

Outrage, I suspect.

-Spencer Pike, Patcham