Parents fight mast plan

5:36pm Sunday 7th October 2007

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A community has joined forces with a primary school to fight plans for a mobile phone mast.

Mobile giant T-Mobile plans to install a 10-metre mast and ground base equipment 100 metres from St Andrew's Primary School in Headington, Oxford.

Neighbours are angry about the location of the mast and want the company to find an alternative site - even though it has won planning permission.

A petition has been launched against the mast and received strong support from parents at the primary school in London Road.

The petition, which has been placed in the school's reception, has already got almost 500 signatures and residents and parents are hoping their voices will be heard.

Peter Rainbird, community governor for the school, said there had been strong parental concern over the issue.

Dr Rainbird, 40, said: "There has not been conclusive proof either way regarding the health aspects of masts and parents are concerned about the issue this represents.

"We do not want to get into a scientific debate with T-Mobile over this, but we would like to sit down and discuss with the company whether they would be willing to find an alternative site."

Oxford City Council initially refused permission on grounds it would clutter the street scene and fell within the boundary of the Old Headington Conservation Area.

Mel Davenport, 35, whose five-year-old son Oliver goes to St Andrew's, said: "This isn't just about children who go to the school, it's about all the children who use Bury Knowle.

"We do not want our children to be playing in the shadow of this phone mast."

Michelle Stephenson, 38, whose daughter Lucie, six, and son Alex, four, go to the school, said: "I don't understand why T-Mobile has to build it so close to a school.

"The Government says there is no evidence that they cause harm, but who knows what we will find in the future.

"Look at our attitude to smoking and how that has changed."

London Road resident Katalin Jambor, who organised the petition, is baffled over why the council's objections were not taken into consideration by the planning inspectorate at appeal.

Mrs Jambor, 76, said: "It makes me feel very angry that this mast could go ahead.

"It will obstruct the pavement and could be very dangerous for pedestrians during the peak hours when this stretch of road is very busy with children going to and from school."

T-Mobile said it was unable to comment.