Residents rally to block O2 mast

Garden Farm and West Lane Community Association is writing to more than 1,400 people about O2's planning application for an antennae in Grasmere Road, Chester-le-Street.

The telecommunications company wants to improve its coverage to customers in the area, but residents believe it would be visually obtrusive.

The association is urging people to sign a letter of opposition, which will be sent to Chester-le-Street District Council.

Chairman Reg Nelson said: "Petitions don't do any good because it is just a list of names. If people agree with our letter and sign it, we will put them together and take them to the council so we can show there is a big bundle of objectors.

"We want the company to think: 'This is going to cause a lot of trouble, let's look somewhere else'."

More than 70 people attended the association's annual meeting on Monday - three times the usual number - to discuss the mast plan.

Vice-chairman Philip George said people were unanimous in their objections to the plan and the association had already sent a letter to the council.

He said: "They want to put it in the middle of an estate, on open ground that people use. It is totally inappropriate.

"The Government has said there are no health risks and, although that is not why we oppose the mast, you cannot be too sure.

"We are also worried it could create a precedent and lead to more."

There are 20 mobile phone masts in the Chester-le-Street area and a further five sites have planning permission for them.

The council confirmed it had received an application from O2 and will be writing to residents to seek their views.

A three-week consultation begins on Monday and the matter is expected to go before the planning committee at the end of next month.

A spokesman for O2 said: "We have an obligation to the local community to provide a good mobile phone service.

"Without masts, they simply will not work. We always work with local planning authorities to find the best possible location for our masts."