Cancer 'cluster' to be probed

A SUSPECTED cluster of cancer cases in a Wallasey block of flats is to be investigated by Wirral health chiefs.

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

Now Wallasey PCT has agreed to survey more than 100 people living in the flats in a bid to uncover a cause.

Residents asked the trust to help after becoming concerned about the possible effects of radiation emitted by two phone masts on the roof of the 12-storey flats.

Bill Morrow, chairman of Liscard House Tenants' Association, said: " We don't want to frighten people but we do want to find out what is causing this.

"We are very concerned about the masts on our roof and we feel it needs to be looked into.

"Most of the people living here are elderly but just because you're older doesn't mean you're going to get cancer so something must be causing it."

On current government planning guidance health fears cannot be used as a basis to refuse phone mast applications.

In a report published in January last year, the Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation said masts were "unlikely" to pose a risk to health.

But this has done little to allay the fears of those who still campaign against phone masts being installed near their homes.

Liscard councillor Dave Hawkins said: "We have been calling for greater investigation into phone mast safety for some time. Until clear guarantees can be given about health we need to proceed with planning applications with great care."

Wallasey PCT said it was keen to support residents to gather information to reassure them over their health fears.

Sue Drew, deputy director of public health for the PCT, said: "I will be working with the residents to provide them with information about normally expected levels of chronic disease in Wallasey so this can be compared with cases identified in Liscard House.

"This will hopefully reassure them that any ill-health experienced is within normal limits for the number of people aged over 55 who live in the building."