Mast cues health check

PEOPLE living in a block of flats at the centre of a cancer scare say an investigation into their health problems has not done enough to quell their fears about phone masts on their roof.

In April the News revealed that Birkenhead and Wallasey PCT had agreed to work with more than 100 people living in Liscard House, Wallasey, to reassure them over the ill-health they were experiencing.

Seven residents have died of cancer in the last year and another four have been diagnosed with the disease.

The PCT believes the figures are normal for the number of elderly people living in the building but residents were concerned about the possible effects of radiation emitted by two phone masts on the roof of the 12-storey block.

The investigation has now been completed and health profile company Healthworks has produced a comprehensive report into the health of Liscard House.

It shows that, of 30 residents who attended a health and lifestyle assessment, 40pc were smokers and 23pc had a blood pressure reading that required further testing.

Body mass tests revealed that half of the males were overweight with 38pc of females overweight and another 38pc classed as obese.

More than half the women tested faced an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease.

Bill Morrow, chairman of Liscard House Tenants' Association, praised the PCT for its support but said he was determined to carry on investigating the effects of the phone masts.

He told the News : "We're delighted with what the PCT have done for us but as far as I'm concerned the phone masts are still there and they're not going away.

"From my point of view I've got to keep investigating it and it's a case of waiting until someone actually proves people are dying of cancers caused by these masts.

"Unfortunately the reports couldn't discuss anything to do with the masts but they did a lot of health tests so from that side of things it has been worth doing.

"We now have a Well Woman clinic and they are coming in to advise people on how to stop smoking and how to prepare a nourishing meal."

Liscard councillor Dave Hawkins says "the jury is still out" about phone mast safety.

He said: "Whatever these findings were history has taught us some unpleasant lessons over things that were originally classed as safe, for example asbestos."

"Greater investigation into phone mast safety needs to be undertaken, including appropriate health surveillance for residents."