People Power: Communities Take a Stand for Their Health

People Power: Communities Take a Stand for Their Health

We want to send huge congratulations to the residents of Worthing and the wider public who objected in overwhelming numbers to the proposed 5G mast at Durrington Community Centre (Application Reference AWDM/1596/25). Over 60 letters of objection were submitted. Their concerns included:

• ◆ Adverse visual impact on the local area
• ◆ Proximity to sensitive receptors, including homes, schools, and community centres
• ◆ Potential interference with medical implants and health concerns, including issues raised in prior court cases
• ◆ ICNIRP guidelines being insufficient to protect vulnerable residents

Thanks to their detailed, persistent, and well-evidenced objections, planners refused the application, recognising that the mast would adversely affect the visual character of the area and that superior alternatives were not properly ruled out. This is a clear example of the power of community action.

While we welcome these decisions and actions, the underlying issues remain unresolved:

◆ ICNIRP continues to be relied on as a blanket safeguard, despite being heavily criticised by independent scientists, doctors, and even courts.
◆ Responsibility for safety is passed between authorities, network operators, and medical device suppliers.

Limitations of ICNIRP Guidelines and Public Health Considerations

The ICNIRP RF FAQs explain how exposure limits were developed and emphasise thermal effects as the basis for protection, but they do not constitute a comprehensive safety assessment of all real-world human exposures, cumulative sources, or non-thermal biological effects. The FAQs state that research with inconsistent or unsubstantiated outcomes is not used to inform limits, yet independent scientific reviews have identified methodological concerns and potential bias in the evidence base used to justify current guidelines, including significant scientific criticism of recent WHO-commissioned systematic reviews upon which ICNIRP relied. ICNIRP has not only produced its own exposure guidelines but has also had extensive involvement in the World Health Organization’s EMF Project and RF health reviews, with current or former ICNIRP commissioners and scientific experts participating in multiple WHO systematic review teams that inform international assessments of RF health effects. In those critiques, experts have documented potential conflicts of interest, the exclusion of relevant studies showing associations with health outcomes, and limitations in how exposures were evaluated, raising justified questions about whether the FAQs’ assertions can be taken as a complete assurance of safety across diverse populations and exposure scenarios. Public authorities also have ongoing duties under the Public Sector Equality Duty (Equality Act 2010) to have due regard to the needs of all groups, including those with medical vulnerabilities or sensitivities, and are not restricted to relying solely on ICNIRP compliance when considering public health protections.

References

1. ICNIRP RF FAQs – current evidence and scope of guidelines (https://www.icnirp.org/en/rf-faq/index.html)
2. Microwave News, ICNIRP Revamp: ICNIRP’s role in WHO EMF project and systematic review teams, Dec 11, 2023 (https://www.microwavenews.com/news-center/icnirp-revamp-closer-ties-who-emf-project)
3. Dahle et al. (2025) Environmental Health, The WHO‑commissioned systematic reviews on RF radiation provide no assurance of safety (https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-025-01220-4)
4. ICBE-EMF scientific critique of WHO review methodology (https://icbe-emf.org/scientific-flaws-of-the-who-review-on-cell-phone-radiation-cancer-risk/)
5. Equality Act 2010, Public Sector Equality Duty (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/149

These issues have been painstakingly documented in our letters to Sefton Council, available on the Radiation Research Trust Call to Action page:
https://radiationresearch.org/sefton-council-and-5g-public-health-concerns/

Official Planning Refusal Document
You can download and view the Worthing mast refusal document to see the official details of the decision and supporting evidence submitted by the community. (Search by Application Reference AWDM/1596/25 or site address Telecommunication Site Bn0914, North of Durrington Community Centre)
https://www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/planning/

This PDF contains the full Decision Notice and Delegated Officer Report for the proposed 5G mast at Telecommunication Site Bn0914, North of Durrington Community Centre, Worthing. It documents the planning authority’s refusal, including the reasons related to visual impact and consideration of alternative sites.

Merseyside Residents Take Action: Raising Awareness in Their Community

We also want to acknowledge the Merseyside residents’ association for their proactive outreach, going out into public spaces to alert residents about radiofrequency microwave radiation exposures from phone masts, including 5G, and highlighting that ICNIRP does not specifically address vulnerable residents or those with medical implants. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfXZGnd3ukU

These are truly inspiring examples of people standing up for their health and community, showing that public engagement and vigilance can influence planning decisions and protect local areas. However, the work is not done. We will continue to demand real protection for vulnerable residents and accountability from authorities.

Call to Action: Take a Stand in Your Community

Follow these examples from Worthing and Liverpool:

◆ Talk to your friends, neighbours, and local community about RF radiation and 5G mast concerns

◆ Gather force and submit objections to local mast applications

◆ Attend public council meetings and raise questions of those in authority

Tools You Can Use

EM Radiation Research Trust 5G Petition: https://radiationresearch.org/5g-petition-why-is-5g-bad/

Non-Consent Forms: https://radiationresearch.org/say-no-to-phone-masts-5g-smart-meters-and-wi-fi-complete-your-non-consent-form/

Parents can gather together and sign the non-consent forms to protect their children from being exposed to wireless radiation at schools from Wi-Fi or phone masts. You can also demand that schools and local authorities provide indemnity details for any possible future compensation claims for adverse health effects or property devaluation attributed to this exposure. Complete the non-consent forms, which include the section below, and return it to the sender:

• Name of policy holder
• Insurance provider
• Policy Number
• Limit of Indemnity

Take action today. Change happens when you take action.

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