Promise of talks on phone mast bid

Protesters angry at proposals for a mobile phone mast near their homes in Telford have won an important victory in their David and Goliath battle with telecoms giant Vodafone.Council leaders have promised to put pressure on the company to rethink its plans. Objectors fear the mast, planned for a site off Alma Avenue, Malinslee, could pose a health risk to youngsters who use a nearby play area and BMX track.

The company behind the mast won planning permission in 2006 from the borough council.

But after campaigners aired their opposition, borough councillors will now try to persuade Vodafone to reconsider.

Telford & Wrekin Council leader Andrew Eade said today: "We have again been in direct contact with Vodafone who have agreed to meet with myself, Councillor Stephen Bentley and senior council officers to discuss our concerns surrounding this mast that was given planning permission some two years ago under the previous administration.

"The company has also indicated it is willing to meet with residents which we are very keen to arrange."

He said they had asked Vodafone to stop any further work on installing the mast but added: "They do have a legal planning permission which gives us some considerable difficulty in trying to resolve this issue."

It follows a last-minute push by members of the Telford Residents Against Masts (Trams) pressure group to force a rethink on the plans. More than 360 letters of objection have been sent to the council.

Trams spokesman John Minshall, of Malinslee, said: "These masts are popping up all over the place but what about people's health?"

Great Dawley parish councillor Shaun Davies said: "We want to know how much it would cost the council to tear up the contract with the phone company and whether or not they are willing to terminate this phone contract."

A public meeting will be held tonight at 7pm in Dawley House, High Street, Dawley.

Vodafone spokesman Dr Rob Matthews, speaking previously, said the company's masts met and exceeded strict guidelines from the World Health Organisation.

By Tom Johannsen and Lizzie Yates