So, the Tetra mast illegally installed on council property on top of Theobald House had been switched on since June 9, despite assurances from operators O2 Airwave to the contrary (The Argus, July 30).

Green Councillor Richard Mallender has assured us the Council has commenced legal proceedings against O2 Airwave for ignoring a council order to switch it off by August 2 and then to remove it.

If, as Tetra watchdog Tetrawatch claim, the Sussex Airwave network was signed off ready for service and handed over by O2 Airwave to the police on July 23, why would this mast have been active for such a long period unless the entire Tetra network in Brighton was already in use?

Given widespread evidence of serious adverse health effects from Tetra masts and handsets, the council has a responsibility to ensure all Tetra masts within its boundaries are switched off for the time being.

In some areas of the UK people have reported chronic sleeplessness and exhaustion, migraines and even cancer up to two miles from these masts since their activation.

A 2002 report by the Lancashire Police Federation revealed more than 170 police officers had developed serious health conditions since they started using Tetra handsets the previous year.

Developed originally as a Cold War weapon known to cause blindness and heart attacks at higher frequencies, why is this system being forced upon us when there are safe and effective alternatives which have been used in Europe for years and which campaigners are demanding should replace it?

Barry Trower, academic and author of the Tetra report for the Police Federation, is quoted in March 2004 as saying about Tetra: "This Government, industry and government scientists will be responsible for more deaths (of civilians) in peace time than all the terrorist organisations ever".

-Liz Brynin, Hove