AN APPLICATION for a mobile phone mast on the tower of Hawes parish church attracted 11 letters of objection and about 40 local people to the meeting last week.

Vodafone wants to put two masts in the area, one on an isolated fell near Thwaite Bridge, and the other as a flag pole on St Margaret's Church in the centre of Hawes.

A lengthy discussion took place about the church mast, with councillors hearing from people living close to the church, and from parents concerned for their children at nearby Hawes Primary School.

Dr Hamer, a school governor, read a lengthy letter signed by all governors except for two who had to declare interests. The council chairman, Coun John Blackie, could not take part in the discussion as he was a member of the National Park planning committee.

The letter said the governors accepted a need for mobile phones, but that siting in the most densely populated area of the dale needed questioning.

The Stuart Report had concluded that international guidelines should be adopted. A 1999 House of Commons report had said there was a need for more details on health effects and said independent audits should be carried out of all base stations. If emissions from masts departed from the rules, they should be decommissioned.

The letter said local people should have a map of areas affected by the beam within a 250m radius. "Where will the maximum intensity be? Could it be the school? It would be neglectful if the school did not show concern."

The Stuart Report had suggested sharing masts. A parent said the emergency services' proposed mast at Ivans Farm, Sedbusk, had been approved on condition that it could share with another provider. Could Vodafone share that?

Dr Hamer said the diocese had yet to be consulted, and the site could be turned down on aesthetic grounds, as the church was a listed building.

The Stuart Report said that if there was a perceived risk such as the stress of living under the mast, and if people felt it affected the value of their property, that should be considered.

As the area had one provider, the meeting was asked why it needed a second one. Vodafone's own application admitted that the church site was a compromise, as it did not give the best reception.

Orange had received planning consent two years ago for a mast on the fire station at Hawes, and still had three years left in which to erect it. This site was not near many houses, but it was near industrial units where many people worked.

Eight members of the church council attended the meeting to hear the comments, as they had not yet made a decision.

One member of the public said the church should decide on moral and health grounds, not for the money offered by Vodafone. Another parent's comment was: "We were been told that beef was safe, landfill areas were safe and MMR injections were safe, but now we know different, so we don't want to approve this mast, which could be found to be unsafe in the future. "

Councillors agreed there was a need for mobile phones, but not using St Mary's Church, and urged an approach to find another site, such as mast sharing at Sedbusk.

There was concern on aesthetic grounds that the church was a listed building.

Seven councillors agreed, one abstained and the chairman declared an interest.

The park authority will accept comments this month. The matter will be discussed at the March meeting