A COMPANY has been granted permission to stop monitoring radiation emissions from one of its telecommunications masts.

Crown Castle was granted permission by Sedgefield Borough Council's development control committee last August for the erection of the 22.5m mast and equipment off Meadowfield Avenue, Green Lane, Spennymoor.

One of the conditions was for the Berkshire firm to carry out six-monthly tests of the radio frequency emissions from the mast.

But, the committee heard yesterday that the highest reading so far had been some 22,500 times below recommended "safe" levels. Others had been much lower than that.

Planning officer Charlie Walton told the committee there was a host of precedent case law to show that it should allow the condition to be dropped, which was the subject of Crown Castle's application. The officer's recommendation was to grant the application.

Councillor John Burton said: "We can't go to appeal on this, it would cost the council a fortune."

Councillor Billy Blenkinsopp disagreed, and said: "I would like the council to go against the recommendation."

He argued there had not been enough tests carried out to be certain of the results' consistency.

Councillor Garry Huntington said any future concerns by residents, who wanted the condition to remain in force, could be passed on to the Health and Safety Executive.

Resident James Burtenshaw, of the Green Lane Residents' Association, argued that the Stewart Report into such emissions last year was inconclusive as to whether there were any dangers from such masts.

He told councillors: "We believe that the condition is relevant."