We are sharing a report authored by Steven Thomas, Karen Churchill and Neil McDougall on the Cheltenham Mast Case. Neil McDougall acted as a McKenzie Friend for Steven Thomas in the High Court, and Karen Churchill served as his McKenzie Friend at the Court of Appeal.
A McKenzie Friend is someone who assists a litigant in person by providing guidance, advice, and support during court proceedings. Both Neil and Karen played this important role throughout the Cheltenham proceedings, supporting Mr Thomas.
The report details how a proposed mast at Lansdown Road would have exposed residents, including those with metal implants, to potentially harmful electromagnetic fields. The planning authority never assessed or disclosed these site-specific risks.
Courts confirmed legal error but refused to quash the decision. Many doctors and independent scientists warn that ICNIRP compliance does not ensure safety, and obligations under the European Electronic Communications Code were not applied.
The mast was ultimately not built due to community action.
We are also sharing additional perspectives through media and legal advocacy. Richard Vobes interviewed Karen Churchill and Steven Thomas in “Can We Stop the Roll Out of 5G?” Watch here, where they discuss the Cheltenham Mast case, the broader implications of 5G deployment, and the challenges faced by communities.
The EM Radiation Research Trust (RRT) submitted evidence to support the Thomas v Cheltenham Borough Council case under Rule 16 of the Supreme Court Rules 2024. While the Supreme Court ultimately refused permission to appeal, our submission aimed to highlight public health and legal considerations, including the importance of site-specific risk assessments, the limitations of ICNIRP compliance, and the potential for avoidable harm from involuntary exposure to radiofrequency radiation.
The Cheltenham Mast Case underscores the gap between legal recognition of risk and meaningful remedy, highlighting the need for ongoing vigilance, robust risk assessment, and precautionary planning decisions to protect public health.
Read the full report written by Steven Thomas, Karen Churchill and Neil McDougall on the Cheltenham Mast Case: