CAMPAIGNERS FIGHT MOBILE MAST PLANS
BY ANDREW WHITAKER
Leicester Mercury
10:30 - 05 July 2005
Campaigners are fighting plans to build a second mobile phone mast in a street.
Phone company T-Mobile wants to put a 38ft mast in Goodwood Road, Evington.
There is already a similarly sized phone mast, put up by the 3G company, in front of St Joseph 's Roman Catholic Church.
The latest application would see a mast placed on a grass verge about 150ft away, outside the church house.
Angry residents say the second mast would be an eyesore and that they won't let it go ahead.
Brian Stephens, 64, who lives in Greystone Avenue, which backs on to the street, is among the people fighting the mast application.
He said: "We will not put up with this and it will happen over my dead body.
"Another mast would be even more of an eyesore than we have to put up with at the moment and we won't let this one lie.
"People are outraged about this and although we hope it won't get permission, if it does, we will probably pull it down."
Parish priest Father John Lally and people who attend St Joseph 's have criticised the plans from the company, which will go before Leicester City Council's planning committee on July 19.
Father John said: "A lot of church-goers live locally and their main concern would be for the residents.
"The policy of the Catholic church in the Midlands is that because the safety of the masts isn't proved, we won't have anything to do with supporting them."
Kevan Hollidge, 56, who attends church services at St Joseph's, said: "It's a nice church and there shouldn't be masts put up outside it.
"I understand there is a need for masts, but it should be put somewhere away from residential areas."
Mick Jagger, 62, who lives near the planned mast, said: "Masts like this are an eyesore and they devalue property. It's also the thin end of the wedge and we could end up with a lot more masts."
Evington ward councillor Tony O'Brien said: "I would object to this because of the potential health hazards and also because the masts shouldn't be sited in residential areas."
A T-Mobile spokeswoman said: "All communities have the potential to benefit from first-class mobile communications, whether they are used for business, social or emergency purposes.
"When a new mast is needed, we try to reduce the impact on the local environment with sensitive siting, innovative design and, where appropriate, landscaping."
A spokeswoman from 3G said: "We are committed to the highest scientific and safety standards in all our operations.
Omega there are no safety standards in their operations and their equipment is not safe. See under: http://www.buergerwelle.de/body_science.html
"All our equipment is safe by design and is in full compliance with the international public emission guidelines."
Leicester Mercury
10:30 - 05 July 2005
Campaigners are fighting plans to build a second mobile phone mast in a street.
Phone company T-Mobile wants to put a 38ft mast in Goodwood Road, Evington.
There is already a similarly sized phone mast, put up by the 3G company, in front of St Joseph 's Roman Catholic Church.
The latest application would see a mast placed on a grass verge about 150ft away, outside the church house.
Angry residents say the second mast would be an eyesore and that they won't let it go ahead.
Brian Stephens, 64, who lives in Greystone Avenue, which backs on to the street, is among the people fighting the mast application.
He said: "We will not put up with this and it will happen over my dead body.
"Another mast would be even more of an eyesore than we have to put up with at the moment and we won't let this one lie.
"People are outraged about this and although we hope it won't get permission, if it does, we will probably pull it down."
Parish priest Father John Lally and people who attend St Joseph 's have criticised the plans from the company, which will go before Leicester City Council's planning committee on July 19.
Father John said: "A lot of church-goers live locally and their main concern would be for the residents.
"The policy of the Catholic church in the Midlands is that because the safety of the masts isn't proved, we won't have anything to do with supporting them."
Kevan Hollidge, 56, who attends church services at St Joseph's, said: "It's a nice church and there shouldn't be masts put up outside it.
"I understand there is a need for masts, but it should be put somewhere away from residential areas."
Mick Jagger, 62, who lives near the planned mast, said: "Masts like this are an eyesore and they devalue property. It's also the thin end of the wedge and we could end up with a lot more masts."
Evington ward councillor Tony O'Brien said: "I would object to this because of the potential health hazards and also because the masts shouldn't be sited in residential areas."
A T-Mobile spokeswoman said: "All communities have the potential to benefit from first-class mobile communications, whether they are used for business, social or emergency purposes.
"When a new mast is needed, we try to reduce the impact on the local environment with sensitive siting, innovative design and, where appropriate, landscaping."
A spokeswoman from 3G said: "We are committed to the highest scientific and safety standards in all our operations.
Omega there are no safety standards in their operations and their equipment is not safe. See under: http://www.buergerwelle.de/body_science.html
"All our equipment is safe by design and is in full compliance with the international public emission guidelines."
Starmail - 7. Jul, 11:09
