Bedminster residents' phone mast fears

Bedminster residents are worried Bristol City Council will approve a 12.5-metre mobile phone mast outside their homes.

They have put together three petitions about 02's plan to build a mast on the corner of St John's Lane and Sylvia Avenue.

A further 19 people have objected and the council has received just one letter of support of the scheme.

Planners said they are "minded" to refuse the application – but they must do so before the weekend or the scheme will go through by default.

Under planning rules, mast applications automatically go ahead unless they are decided within 56 days.

Objectors fear 02 will put up a "monstrosity" and a local church, the Victoria Park Baptists, fears the project could interfere with its plans for affordable housing nearby.

Insurance worker Martin Hutchings, 36, who lives close to the site at the end of Redcatch Road, said: "We don't want something as high as this put up in a residential area.

"It's a possible health risk and it looks terrible. It will be a real monstrosity.

"The mast would be very near a popular beauty spot, Victoria Park.

"And I know for a fact that schemes of this kind have been turned down in other areas, including Clifton, in the past.

"Why should they dump this in our area of South Bristol?"

The Rev Brendan Bassett, minister of Victoria Park Baptist Church, has written to the council about the church's plans to redevelop its site.

His letter says: "A comparison of the two plans (i.e.. the mast and the church's scheme) indicates the mast would likely be just a few feet from a potential bedroom and, if granted planning permission, would dictate a compromise to our plans."

But Angela Johnson, of O2, told the Bristol Evening Post: "The mast needs to be 12.5 metres high because of surrounding trees and buildings.

"If it goes ahead, it will be a mock telegraph pole, in keeping with an Orange mast just down the road.

"There is no risk to health. The World Health Organisation has said there is no evidence of any risk because the masts are so low-powered.

"The mast has to be at the location applied for. It needs to be in a very specific area to fit in with our existing network.

"It can't be too close to any of our other masts because otherwise it could cause interference."

The Bedminster protestors' hopes were raised last night, as Bristol City Council said: "The council is minded to refuse the application."