MPs to hear of fears over mast bid

Fears about a 12m-high mobile phone mast being sited near two primary schools in Shrewsbury are to be highlighted in Parliament.

Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski is to raise the concerns about Vodafone's plans to install the mast in Copthorne, on a site which nearly 1,000 campaigners fought to keep clear just under two years ago.

Demonstrators celebrated after their protest campaign, including a 950-signature petition, forced phone firm O2 to reconsider its plans for a 41ft antenna at Copthorne in March, 2007.

But Vodafone now plans to use the original planning permission to site its mast near to the Woodfield County Infant School and St George's Primary School.

Mr Kawczynski met company managers in the Commons this week and was told all alternative sites suggested were unacceptable or inappropriate. He said he would put down a motion in Parliament about phone masts being put so close to primary schools, describing this as "unacceptable".

"I am going to raise it in Parliament on Monday to highlight what they are doing," he said. "I never want to give up until it is actually constructed."

More than 100 protesters took to the streets in Shrewsbury in December to campaign against the mast.

Vodafone says it takes neighbourhood concerns extremely seriously.