Amateur Radio is a unique, fascinating and friendly hobby that captivates the interest of millions of people around the world.

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What is Amateur radio

• Amateur Radio is a unique, fascinating and
  friendly hobby that captivates the interest of
  millions of people around the world.
• Amateur radio is all about the skill and
  fascination of communicating using radio. Radio
  amateurs have their own communication satellites,
  talk to the international space station and are
  at the very cutting edge of technology in many
  areas. 
• Amateur Radio operators come from all walks of
  life. They are all ages, sexes, income levels and
  nationalities. Whether they prefer Morse code,
  voice communication on a hand-held radio, or
  computerised messages transmitted via satellite,
  they all have an interest in what's happening in
  the world, and they use radio to reach out.

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Holding an amateur radio licence

• There are approximately 50,000 licensed radio
  amateurs in the UK meaning we account for 1 in
  every 1200 of the UKs population. Given the
  average population of 2.56 persons per household
  thats one every 390 homes. Yet most neighbours
  dont even know they are there.
• Amateur radio is not like CB,
• OFCOM require every
• licence holder to sit an
• written exam and practical
• assessment prior to issuing a
• licence.
• There are currently 3 types of
• licence. To run higher power
• you have to pass an increasingly
• more difficult exam.

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The need for aerials
Why do radio amateurs need such large aerials
when you can hear radio stations from all over
the world on a simple transistor radio and no
external aerial? A typical radio amateur with
full licence privileges will use 100W or less and
a simple aerial compared the 200,000W into a very
large aerial array to the used by the likes of
the BBC World Service. They are also technical
restraints that limit how small a transmitting
aerial can be and still be effective.

Planning Guidance PPG8 Telecommunications
acknowledges this technical restraint in section
7 of its guidance and advises Local Planning
Authorities stating that- Each
telecommunications system has different antenna
types, siting needs and other characteristics.
Planning authorities should have regard to any
technical constraints
on the location and proposed development.
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Detrimental to the visual amenity of the area
It is a generally accepted principle that the
householder should be able to practice a leisure
pursuit incidental to the enjoyment of the
dwelling and that any planning permission should
only be withheld when it can reasonably be shown
that there is a substantial objection to the
particular proposals. PPG 8 advises in section
80 that- Applications for planning permission
to install the masts often used by amateur radio
operators, radio taxi firms and other private and
commercial users, usually present few potential
planning problems
in terms of size and visual impact over a wide
area. Such masts need to be high enough for
technical efficiency and located as far as
possible from other antennas, in order to
minimise the possibility of interference. Cont.
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Detrimental to the visual amenity of the area

• PPG8 cont-
• However, they will not normally be of such a
  scale as to have a serious impact on local
  amenity.
• Such applicants will generally have less scope
  for using alternative sites or for sharing sites,
  and masts will often need to be located on the
  premises.

Most amateur radio aerials and masts are not so
intrusive that it justifies refusal of planning
permission given that it is not only of value as
leisure interest, but also of value to the
community for emergency communications purposes
(Lockerbie, 7/7 etc, RAYNET, Council Emergency
Plan). Where telescopic masts are used, visual
impact can be reduced by applying conditions on
the application such as it being lowered to its
lowest vertical position when not in use.
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Power Levels and RF Safety

• Given the near hysterical press coverage its
  not surprising that members of the public may
  have concerns about RF safety.
• Permitted maximum power levels
• for radio amateurs run from 10W
• (about twice the power of a mobile
• phone at full power) up to a maximum
• 400W (less than half the power
• of a typical kettle) dependant of the
• licence class the radio amateur has.
• The typical amateur radio station
• with the highest licence privileges
• runs about 100W, the same as a
• domestic light bulb). The duty cycle a Shortwave
  transmitter (the amount
• of time they are transmitting at full power) is
  also very low being typically about 20 verses
  the100 of a mobile phone handset and mast.
• The biggest difference is that they dont
  operate 1 inch from your brain.

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RF Safety/Interference Planning Guidance PPG 8

• Section 94-
• It is not for the local planning authority to
  seek to replicate through the planning system
  controls under the health and safety regime.
  Enforcement of health and safety legislation in
  this area is a matter for the Health and Safety
  Executive (HSE) and not the local planning
  authority.
• Section 98.
• it is the Governments firm view that the
  planning system is not the place for determining
  health safeguards

Section 102. In any development, significant
and irremediable interference with other
electrical equipment of any kind can be a
material planning consideration. There are
essentially two types of interference. The first
type is electromagnetic interference, caused by a
radio transmitter or by unwanted signals emitted
by other electrical equipment. Ofcom has
statutory powers for dealing with this type of
interference under the Wireless Telegraphy Act
1949. Only if there is clear evidence that
significant electromagnetic interference will
arise, or will probably arise, and that no
practicable remedy is available, will there
generally be any justification for taking it into
account in determining a planning application.
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Safety Statement on amateur radio

• Email from Health Protection Agency -
• In reply to your enquiry, although we cannot
  comment on a particular installation, in general
  the radio frequency levels emitted by the masts
  of amateur radio enthusiasts are relatively low
  and should therefore not be any cause for concern
  in relation to health.
• Amateur radio operators are licensed by Ofcom,
  the government communications regulator, and
  recommended reference levels for use by amateur
  radio stations in the UK, are referred to in the
  booklet Amateur Radio Licence Terms, Provisions
  and Limitations issued by Ofcom as in the
  following weblink
• http//www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAwebHPAwebStandard/
  HPAweb_C/1195733826469
• I hope this is helpful.
• Regards,
• Ros Thorne
• Information Office
• Radiation Protection Division (formerly NRPB)
• Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental
  Hazards
• Health Protection Agency (HPA)
• Chilton

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RF Safety/Interference Planning Appeal decisions

• APP/L2630/A/08/2072359 Redlands, 11-13
  Hardingham Street, Hingham, Norfolk NR9 4JB
• Reference has been made to possible health
  concerns and to possible interference with
  electronic devices. Several local residents have
  raised objections on health grounds and I accept
  that their fears are relevant to my decision.
  Planning Policy Guidance Note 8
  Telecommunications (PPG8) makes it clear that the
  planning system is not the place for determining
  health safeguards. On balance and bearing in mind
  that there was little objective evidence to
  support local fears, I do not consider that local
  residents health concerns are sufficient to
  justify refusing approval. As regards
  interference, PPG8 advises that interference
  caused by radio transmitters is a matter for
  Ofcom.
• APP/K2420/A/08/2075662 73 Southfield Road,
  Hinckley, Leicestershire LE10 1UA
• I have received representations expressing
  concern about potential interference with radio
  or TV equipment in the vicinity. There are powers
  under other legislation to deal with interference
  if it arises and I have no reason to doubt that
  they would not be effective in this case
• APP/U2370/A/07/2036102 15 Wren Close,
  Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire FY6 7QL
• The occupiers of neighbouring properties have
  raised concerns about the effects on health and
  on television reception. However, Government
  guidance in Planning Policy Guidance Note
  8Telecommunications makes clear that the
  planning system is not the place for determining
  health safeguards. No evidence of any potential
  health problem, sufficient to override this
  advice, has been submitted. Similarly, PPG 8
  advises that interference caused by a radio
  transmitter is a matter for Ofcom.

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RF Safety/Interference Planning Appeal decisions

• APP/W1715/A/07/2055324 1 Ashley Court, Providence
  Hill, Bursledon, Southampton SO31 8AT
• The occupier of 14 Kingsfield Gardens complains
  of significant interference to television
  reception when the mast is transmitting.
  Government advice in Planning Policy Guidance
  (PPG) 8 Telecommunications states that Ofcom has
  statutory powers for dealing with electromagnetic
  interference under the Wireless Telegraphy Act
  1949. In the light of these powers, Annex 2 of
  PPG8 advises that radio interference is not
  normally relevant to the determination of
  planning applications.
• APP/Y3805/A/06/2028170 57 Freshbrook Road,
  Lancing, West Sussex BN15 8DE
• Control of radio interference is not a matter
  for the planning system,.
• This list is not exhaustive. Other example are
  available
• from the RSGB on request.
• Copies of all these appeal decisions may be
  downloaded at-
• www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/genpub/en/

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For more info on amateur radioplease contact

• The Radio Society of Great Britain
• 3 Abbey Court
• Fraser Road
• Priory Business Park
• Bedford MK44 3WH
• Phone [phone]
• WWW.RSGB.ORG.UK
• PAC.chairman_at_rsgb.org.uk