Speaking at a fringe meeting at this week’s Labour party conference organised by the children’s cancer charity CHILDREN with LEUKAEMIA, Dartford MP, Dr Howard Stoate called once again on the Government to adopt a “precautionary approach” in relation to building new homes and schools close to high voltage over head power lines.

Dr Stoate, who chaired a Cross-Party Inquiry into Childhood Leukaemia and Extremely Low Frequency Electric and Magnetic Fields two years ago that called for a moratorium on the building of new homes close to high voltage power lines, said;

“Having looked at the scientific evidence on the health impact of long-term exposure to low frequency electric and magnetic fields our inquiry decided that precautionary measures were justified.  We called on the Government therefore to bring in a moratorium on the building of new homes within at least 60 metres of existing high voltage power lines of 275 and 400 kV.”

“In the two years since the publication of Our Cross Party Parliamentary Inquiry however the Government has failed to make a statement of any sort on this issue. This issue is not going to go away.  The Government needs to take a clear line and fast.”

Notes

The cross party inquiry was set up following the publication of the Draper Report in 2005 which found an association between children living within 200 metres of HVOTL and an increased risk - of around 70% - of childhood leukaemia.

The Government commissioned Stakeholder Advisory Group’s First Interim Assessment published just before the cross party inquiry’s report in April 2007 also identified a building moratorium as the best available option for obtaining significant exposure reduction.

CHILDREN with LEUKAEMIA seeks to raise awareness of the increased incidence of childhood leukaemia in children who live, or go to school, close to high voltage overhead power lines.  Whilst more scientific research is carried out the charity urges the Government to adopt a “precautionary approach” to building new homes and schools close to power lines, and vice versa, to stop making the problem worse.