Ilford Recorder

30 June 2005

DETERMINED residents are preparing to do battle in the High Court to stop a mobile phone mast being put up in a conservation area close to a primary school.

Last month, a planning inspector overturned Redbridge Council's refusal and allowed T-Mobile's appeal, granting planning permission for the 11.7m high mast on land adjacent to the Bowling Club, Aldersbrook Road , Wanstead.

Mother-of-three Elizabeth Canavan, of Merlin Road, Wanstead, rushed to stop work on the site on Monday afternoon and was soon joined by reinforcements.

Sitting on a mound of soil with her 15-month old daughter Eva, Mrs Canavan said she is "completely determined" to protect children at nearby Aldersbrook Primary School, Harpenden Road, Wanstead, from a potential cancer risk.

The protesters have set up Aldersbrook Residents Mast Solution (ARMS) and served papers on the planning inspectorate on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, a group of angry Newbury Park residents staged a protest on Saturday against plans to erect a mast in the heart of their community.