MORE than 300 residents have signed a petition calling for a telecommunications firm to scrap plans for a controversial phone mast.

MP Bill Cash has handed the list of those opposed to the Cheadle scheme to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council.

Members of the recently-formed Cheadle Mast Action Group collected the names.

They are campaigning against Vodafone's plans to build a 50ft (15 metre) structure in Brookhouse Way.

The firm is waiting to see if the council will approve its application for a certificate of lawfulness.

That document would prove the firm complied with planning regulations when it started to install the mast.

Vodafone began work in March despite residents being told the company had been refused planning permission.

The firm argued it could go ahead because notice of refusal had not been received from the council within a stipulated period.

Conservative MP for Stone Mr Cash, who is backing the residents, said he had now handed over the petition, which urges the council to reject the certificate for lawfulness.

He added: "The council's original decision was welcomed by my constituents, who had objected vigorously against the proposed mast for several reasons, in particular its visual impact, the damaging effect it would have on house values in the area and its close proximity to family homes.

"I have contacted the chief executive of Vodafone to inform them of our opposition and I have also asked Cheadle Town Council for their support."

The application will go before the borough council's planning application committee on September 9.

Greenways residents Martin and Lindy Lane, who helped launch the action group, have vowed to carry on their fight.

Mr Lane, a 47-year-old financial adviser, said: "The group will be represented at the meeting in September to make sure the council knows the position of the residents on this one.

"If the application is refused, Vodafone will probably have to look elsewhere if they want to pursue the development.

"We have said all along we are happy to talk to them and suggest alternative sites in the area where we think a mast would be more suitable."

A Vodafone spokesman confirmed it had submitted a certificate of lawfulness application for the site.

"This is an opportunity for the council to consider whether consent already exists for the site," he added.

"It won't go into issues such as the visual impact or the site selection process.

"We understand that some people have concerns about the siting of masts, but, in order for us to provide a good network for mobile phones and mobile data services, we must have masts where people use the services – where they live, work and travel."