Sending out wrong signals

2:38pm Tuesday 13th May 2008

I WAS shocked to hear via the BBC last week of the plight of Robin Wood of Redditch, who faces court action over his amateur radio antennae.

I understand the Advertiser/Chronicle has covered his story in the past and has more this week.

Mr Wood's neighbours are claiming visual disturbance, electronic interference and bizarrely, an invasion of their privacy when Mr Wood, who is blind, adjusts his antennae.

Redditch Borough Council states it has a duty of care to investigate these complaints, however I am not aware of any efforts by the council to verify whether electronic interference is being created or not.

It appears the neighbours have a vendetta against Mr Wood, as they are claiming invasion of privacy from a blind man. As a highly qualified communications engineer, I find the neighbours allegations of simultaneous interference to TV, radio, internet and mobile phone highly incredible and unlikely in addition.

It is absolutely incredulous therefore that Redditch council has taken no measure at all to examine whether interference is actually being created - if it is not (and they have not verified it in a practical manner), the only grounds of complaint that still stand are visual disturbance - hardly sufficient nor moral grounds to remove Mr Woods' only contact with the external world.

If the council is struggling to get their heads around how to verify whether interference is being created I would be happy to offer my services as a professional engineer.

The neighbours, the council and the general public may be interested to know that Mr Wood's story has been taken up by news agencies worldwide, and that people are discussing this in a number of languages in a number of countries in various web forums.

The common theme is that all of these people are disgusted that Mr Wood can be treated like this, and cannot quite believe that in a country such as the UK, authority can be so cruel to him.

No doubt if Mr Wood was a local delinquent brick-lobbing foul mouthed youth, the council would be going out of their way to ensure his every request is satiated.

The irony is that the council, by removing Mr Wood's social contact with the outside world, are being anti-social. Perhaps they should be served with an ASBO then?

Aaron Stevens, MIET, MSc, B.Eng (hons)

Fellow of the Panasonic Trust

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