RESIDENTS in Oxford are angry that mobile phone masts are being erected on pubs which are close to primary schools.
Mobile phone firm T-Mobile is building masts on the roof of the Marlborough House pub in Western Road, a short distance from St Ebbe's Primary School, and on top of The Chester Arms pub in Chester Street, next to St Mary and St John Primary School.
The mobile phone company has informed the city council's planning department that it is erecting the masts, but the firm has permitted development rights and does not need planning permission.
T-Mobile signed a national agreement with Punch Taverns allowing it to put phone masts on its premises.
Oxfordshire County Council banned mobile phone masts being erected at schools in 1999.
Jan Treacher, a governor at St Ebbe's Primary School, said governors had contacted T-Mobile to complain.
On Saturday residents near the Chester Arms launched a petition against the mobile phone mast.
Gordon Simmons, a spokesman for T-Mobile, said the company had signed a nationwide agreement with Punch Taverns for use of its premises.
Punch Taverns, which has 93 pubs in Oxfordshire and 33 pubs in the Oxford area, refused to provide a list of the pubs it owned.
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