Parents' fears at phone mast suggestion for church tower

FAMILIES are taking on a church council over plans to install a phone mast in a tower.

Residents plan to stage a protest outside St Lawrence's Church in Congleton Road, Biddulph, on Monday ahead of a meeting of the parochial church council.

They are angry leaders are considering backing Vodafone's proposals to install a 3G phone in the church tower.

Parents are worried about the possible health risks to children attending a pre-school group, which uses the church hall and at nearby Woodhouse Middle School, in Woodhouse Lane.

Helen Roberts, chairman of Biddulph Valley North Community Association, is calling on residents to support the protest.

Mother-of-two Mrs Roberts, aged 42, of Congleton Road, said: "I'm appalled by it. The parochial parish council had the chance of saying no. We are not saying there's not a demand for the technology, but there must be somewhere more appropriate than a Grade-II listed church.

"I have had telephone calls from lots of parents worried about this and they have all said they will take their children out of the pre-school if the mast is put up.

"We know nothing has been proven yet about the health risks of phone masts, but there are concerns."

Beverley Webb, aged 56, of Portland Road, said: "A lot of people are concerned about this telephone mast and all the bad press around masts. The biggest concern is the pre-school group. Government guidelines recommend these masts should not be sited where children are."

Bob Hart, aged 62, of Oxhey Drive, said: "Some papers say phone masts are damaging to children's health; some say they aren't. We have to err on the side of caution and protect the children. I'm a member of the church, but I feel we have got to put the children's health first."

Rev Martin Cannam, of St Lawrence's Church, said: "Vodafone looked at the church as a possible site for a telephone mast in March and asked would the church be interested. We confirmed we would be.

"Everything went quiet, but they have simply asked us if we are still interested, which we are. The advantage to the church would be the rental income. It would be out of everyone's way, 25 metres up in the air.

"In my view, these phone masts are safe. If we look at it again in the future, all the people concerned would be involved in the consultation process."

A spokesman for Vodafone said: "Our customers expect to be able to use their mobile phones and data cards where they live, work and travel.

"We have identified that there is a need to improve the 3G coverage to our customers in the Congleton Road area and after a thorough search of the area we have sought to place base station antennas within the church tower.

"This will ensure that there will be minimal visual impact on the surrounding area.

"We recognise that there has been some concern regarding the proposed installation and are awaiting the outcome of the meeting on Monday before proceeding."

The protest takes place at St Lawrence's at 6.30pm on Monday.