Controversial phone mast plans are turned down

RESIDENTS are celebrating after controversial plans to install a phone mast near their road where 10 people have died of cancer were refused.

An application was submitted by Orange to erect the mast behind Stowe Crescent on Breakspear Road, Ruislip.

More than 30 people attended the planning meeting held last Tuesday (2) to show their objections to the plans.

Eight people in Stowe Crescent and two people in Wyteleaf Close have died of cancer since a T-Mobile and Orange mast were erected in Breakspear Road.

One of the lead protesters, Donald Edwards, of Stowe Crescent, said: "Is this a coincidence or is it a cancer cluster caused by the phone mast?"

However, the new installation proposed by Orange would comply with Government guidelines, therefore, the planning committee could not refuse the application on health grounds.

Another Stowe Crescent resident, Steve Garelick, argued that the mast would also be an eyesore and that Orange had not looked for a more suitable location.

The current Orange mast is located in the grounds of Hillingdon Borough Football Club, in Breakspear Road. The owners of the club are happy for the mast to stay there and it is unclear why Orange want to move it.

Mr Garelick said: "The football club or the crematorium would be a much better location and I think Orange have been very economical with the truth."

Councillor David Allam added: "I do think we have a legitimate reason for turning this down, and that is the mobile phone company's reluctance to do what they are supposed to do, which is find a suitable site. They are supposed to look at sites that provide the coverage they want and have the least impact on residents, but what they are actually doing it looking at sites that are most cost effective."

The committee decided to refuse the application on the grounds that Orange did not look for a suitable site and it would be an eyesore on the edge of Green Belt land.

Mr Edwards said: "It was a great victory and the overall feeling is elation. "

An Orange spokesperson said: "We would very much like to renew our lease at the football club but despite numerous attempts, we have been unable to re-negotiate a new lease with the owner.

" We have suggested 14 possible options all of which have been discounted. A site at Breakspear Crematorium is located within Green Belt land which can be contentious and is the reason it has been discounted.

"If Orange is not required to vacate the football club then we will not appeal this decision - however should the current owner of the football club not be open to our negotiations, then we may be appealing this decision as we and the planning officer do feel that this is the most appropriate location."