Update on judicial review - 25.8.20
You will recall that my legal campaign is to, among other things, change government policy on the roll out of 5G – details of the campaign are at www.5gemfreview2020.com.
During the time that our legal team has been considering taking legal action against the Secretary of State for the Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England, the government has made the decision to remove the need for planning permission for masts, antennae and equipment.
Do see further below.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/902836/Government_Response_Mobile_Planning_Consultation.pdf
They did this after consulting with the public over permitted development rights (“PDR”) which ended in November, 2019. That would mean, among other things, that planning permission would no longer be needed for masts, antennae and equipment which can then be erected in town centres, neighbourhoods and conservation areas at will and mobile service providers can proliferate this equipment across the country with no oversight by anyone.
The decision includes proposals to “Enable higher new masts to deliver better mobile coverage and mast sharing, subject to prior approval and specified limits”. It is not clear what this means but I have already seen a number of applications for massive 60 foot structures with multiple masts on them currently being made and from this decision it looks like it will be made easier for these types of structures to proliferate in our neighbourhoods.
Our legal team obtained some copies of objections to the PDR public consultation which demonstrated the overwhelming submissions of adverse health consequences to humans, bees, trees and birds from such a reckless proposal. The government’s decision barely commented on such representations quoting the usual PHE stance which is known to be deeply flawed and unfit for purpose.
A key part of the legal campaign is to change government policy on the roll out of 5G. Therefore, our legal team has decided to challenge this decision making process through the medium of judicial review promptly and, to that end, have sent a letter before action to the Secretaries of State for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and for the Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Do see it below.
https://www.scribd.com/document/473627506/LCS-Practice-letter-to-DCMS-and-DHCLG-final-as-sent-21-8-20-pdf
Our legal team continues to consider taking legal action against DHSC/PHE. While I have seen some objections to the PDR consultation, if any of you made objections, please send them to me asap at jlc@lawlcs.com as they may be helpful in any eventual legal action.
I know that some of you have contributed hugely and generously already. And you would be right to think that a one off contribution should suffice. But, the problem with this situation is that it is like an onion, with many layers and one has to peel off each layer of the onion skin to get at the different parts which form this brutal and inhumane treatment of humanity and our environment.
You have all so far been fantastic. I am trying to do all that I can, but I cannot do this alone.
Finally, I will write to you more later about this – but the UK government has just spent £500m (on 27 July) investing in the bankrupt OneWeb which was building 5G satellites for 45% of the company. The government made this investment against the advice of the UK Space Agency and of the relevant department’s Accounting Officer who said that the investment was not “value for money”. A shocking waste of taxpayer’s money.
A company has just got planning permission to build a space port in Scotland and the government has given permission for satellites to be launched from that port. The UK Space Agency has been working on a plan to launch 5G satellites over the UK at least since 2018 that I can find. I will send more information on this with links to read soon.
In the meantime, there are three immediate actions we need to take:
- Object to the UK government’s investment in OneWeb;
- Object to OneWeb’s new filing (since the UK government invested in the bankrupt company) to launch 42,000 satellites (to match SpaceX’s permission also to launch 42,000 satellites); and
- Make representations on a consultation opened until October about legislation for satellites which would include 5G satellites.
There is much work to do and not much time in which to do it. I will send more about these objections etc later.
While some funds have been raised already, it is still below halfway to the £150,000 which I am trying to raise for this campaign.
Please go to either of the pages below and donate what you can, including making a monthly contribution so that the fund can be built up to address these issues and issues similar to these to achieve the overall objective.
Even a regular monthly donation of say £10 or more a month will move us towards the target.
https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/5g-judicial-review-2020/
Please tell your friends and spread the word.
Best Regards,
Jessica Learmond-Criqui