CAMPAIGNERS hoping for the removal of a police communications mast near to their homes in Ludgershall have had their hopes dashed by Wiltshire Police Authority.

At a meeting of the authority in Devizes it was revealed that neither the police authority nor its newly appointed chief constable, Martin Richards, has the power to influence the siting of the masts.

Airwave masts are being erected to provide police with a vastly improved communications system but there are widespread fears about their potential health risks.

This is because the system broadcasts on a frequency similar to that used by the human body and, unlike mobile phone masts, these are said to be switched on at all times. Some people living close to the Ludge-rshall mast have already complained about lack of sleep.

Kieren Kilgallen, clerk to the police authority, said the contract with O2 for Airwave was part of a national, private finance initiative signed two years ago in which police set the objectives and it was for the company to identify sites for masts to enable the objectives to be achieved.

"We are not masters of our own destiny in relation to this particular issue," he told authority members.

"The only course of action open to us would be to refer the matter up to the project board."

In most cases it wouldn't be necessary to gain planning permission, according to Kennet county councillor Chris Hump-hries as the Tetra masts are simply tacked on to existing structures.

"If it doesn't exceed the height of an existing mast nine times out of ten they can stick it on and don't require permission because it is regarded as permitted development," he said.

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