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Villagers fight on against phone mast
ANGRY villagers have vowed to fight on, despite permission being given for a mobile phone mast in West Boldon.
Vodafone's application to erect a 12m mast, with a 1.6m antenna on top, in Western Terrace was rejected by South Tyneside Council last May.
But that decision was overturned on appeal by the Planning Inspectorate last month.
Boldon Against The Mast, the action group set up to oppose the plan after it was announced last year, is determined to keep up its opposition, however.
Campaign leader Victoria Elphinstone said: "We are currently seeking other avenues to carry on fighting the plans. We're not just going to let this go.
"We're absolutely appalled that Vodafone has neither listened to, or cared about, our objections."
The 34-year-old, of Front Street, East Boldon, added: "We feel that Vodafone has been very greedy with this appeal.
"A representative of Vodafone was actually at the planning committee meeting when it was rejected, and the firm clearly realised that there was a lot of opposition to the plans.
"That's the reason the council rejected the plans in the first place – because there was such significant opposition from residents. Everyone I've spoken to is against it."
Vodafone spokesman Dr Rob Matthews said: "Our customers expect to be able to use their mobile phones and devices where they live, work and travel.
"We have identified that there is a need to improve 3G coverage to our customers in West Boldon and have proposed a new mast in Western Terrace.
"We were disappointed that the original planning application was refused by South Tyneside Council, and after making a thorough review of the area, we decided that this site still represented the most appropriate location to provide the improved coverage.
"We are pleased that the Planning Inspectorate has upheld our appeal.
"There are no immediate plans to build the site, but we are currently finalising our build plans for the next 12 months and expect the site to be included."
More than 400 letters of objection were sent to the council before the planning committee meeting in May last year that turned down the application.
Most of those objecting to the plan were concerned about possible health risks.
Mrs Elphinstone, a mum of two, said: "Phone masts can be extremely dangerous for the people living near them.
"There is real evidence that suggests that living next to masts could cause increased risks of cancer, dementia and memory loss.
"In one case, highlighted in a study carried out in Germany in 2004, there was a significant increase of cancer cases in people living next to a mast over a five-year period."
She is urging residents wishing to complain about the appeal decision, or after more information, to contact Boldon Against the Mast by emailing radiationfree@live.co.uk
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Weather for South Shields
Tuesday 07 February 2012
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