Meeting invite over mobile phone mast

A mobile phone mast could be built in Halesowen sparking fury from residents who have been invited to a public meeting. Phone company O2 wants to put up a mast in Bassnage Road.

Campaigners fighting the plans are invited to the meeting next Thursday at Lutley Community Centre, in Brookwillow Road, at 7pm. People are objecting, saying the antennae would be near their homes and that they are worried about the potential health risks.

Lutley Primary School is nearby and parents fear their children's health could be at risk.

They also say the mast will be an eyesore.

Councillor Ken Turner said: "Residents are concerned about the affect a phone mast could have on their health.

"I also think there are more suitable sites where the mast will be more concealed from view."

Councillor Turner arranged for representatives from the company to do a walkabout of the area so they could get a feel for residents' concerns.

Suggestions for new sites have now been put forward and these will be discussed at the meeting.

Options include installing the equipment at the junction of Alexandra Road and Huntingtree Road.

"I spent an afternoon with representatives from the company and we did a walkabout to look at alternative sites for the mast."

Councillor Turner said he was pleased the company had agreed to consult residents before submitting a planning application.

Meanwhile the deadline passed yesterday for people to oppose another O2 application.

The company wants to put one up a 41ft mast on a traffic island off Abbey Road.

Around 250 people objected to the proposals and were delighted when Dudley Council planners refused the application in August.

But the company went to appeal.

John Jones, aged 47, chairman of governors at Red Hill Primary and Junior School in Zoar Street, just a few streets away from the proposed mast site, has said: "That mast is a monstrosity and our council agreed but now it has been taken out of their hands."