Legal action threat over phone mast (From Stroud News and Journal)

Legal action threat over phone mast

TEACHERS are horrified that controversial plans for a mobile phone mast near Wycliffe College have been given the go-ahead.

Wycliffe head Margie Burnet Ward is to take legal advice after Stroud district councillors granted permission for the 3G mast.

Telecommunications giant O2 plans to build the 15 metre mast directly opposite one of the school's main boarding houses, Looseley Halls, which accommodates 120 pupils.

A further 300 pupils are educated at the college, which is on the main A419 highway.

Mrs Burnet Ward said she was 'appalled' at the decision, which hung by a single vote.

"I do not understand how any responsible authority can totally ignore the health risks we have vehemently pointed out," she said.

"It seems to me the Government is partly to blame because the guidelines on what one can object to are so restrictive.

"If there's the slightest possibility that peoples' health will be compromised, I don't see how they can proceed.

"I don't think one man should be in a position to influence the well-being of the community in this way."

The SNJ reported how staff and parents vowed to fight the plans when they were announced in November.

Campaigners submitted despite 28 letters of objection and Stonehouse Town Council opposed the mast.

At a planning meeting at Ebley Mill yesterday, Tuesday, district councillors were divided over whether to allow it.

But Cllr Graham Littleton (Cons, Hardwicke), who chaired the meeting, cast the deciding vote in favour of the proposals after legal advice from officers.

"Under current Government guidelines we have no reason to refuse this mast," he said.

He added that the council had lost costly appeals when it had objected plans for masts on health grounds in the past.

A spokesman from O2 was unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.