bY CHRIS MILLS

12:00 - 05 April 2005

Anti-phone mast campaigners have reacted with disappointment to a Government announcement promising more research into the future development of base stations. A short statement was issued late last night by Planning Minister Yvette Cooper promising the commissioning of "more research into the future development of mobile phone mast networks".

The research will look at the potential for increasing sharing of mast sites between the major phone companies.

National planning chiefs will also look at the effectiveness of the Sitefinder database which is supposed to list all base stations in the UK and their emission levels.

Planning Minister Yvette Cooper said: "It is important to identify the future direction of mobile phone technology in order to inform policy development and to respond to public interest in this area."

The Echo revealed earlier this year how the number of masts nationwide had doubled to more than 50,000 since 2001 when the Stewart Report was published recommending the adoption of a "precautionary principle".

Jenny Wright, who has led a campaign against two masts within 100 metres of her home near Broadclyst, said: "If they stop putting the masts on top of our homes, schools and hospitals, then they can share whatever sites they want.

"I'm sure the Government has only come out with this because of the election."

This is Exeter

5/4/05