Attend a panel debate about mobile phone masts. What is clear here is the passion in the room and the frustration of the people with the blanket refusal of the authorities and Labour to truly examine the situation.

Whilst myth and anecdote undoubtedly mix with fact in some people’s views, my take on the meeting is that some serious scientific studies need to be done to examine whether there is an increase of cancer incidence in the area that lies directly in the beam of greatest intensity from masts in place for, say, 10 years.

In the meantime – planning law should be based on the precautionary principle and we should permit through planning law only those masts which avoid schools etc until the studies are complete.