Campaigners join forces to stop phone mast plan (From Barry And District News)

Campaigners join forces to stop phone mast plan

SUPPORT is growing for a campaign to stop a mobile phone mast being sited just yards from one of the Vale of Glamorgan's largest schools.

Nearly 500 concerned residents and parents have signed a petition, which calls on mobile phone giant 02 to rethink its plans to site a 20 metre high mast less than 15 metres from an entrance to Bryn Hafren School in Merthyr Dyfan Road, Barry.

Vale of Glamorgan Councillor Rob Curtis said: "I would like to thank the hundreds of concerned local residents and parents for signing our petition, urging O2 to think again about where it sites its masts.

"We are not being anti-technology, but we are calling on mobile phone companies to place their masts away from schools and built-up areas.

"I have no doubt there are many farmers who would welcome the rental income from such masts.

"The campaign has the support of John Smith MP and Jane Hutt AM, and together with the support of councillors and residents' groups, we are confident that O2 will think again."

Barry town councillor Keith Lewis said: "We are determined to ensure that the voices of local residents and parents are clearly heard at the HQ of these international mobile phone companies.

"There are serious health concerns about the long-term effects of mobile phone radiation, therefore it makes common sense to ensure these masts are kept away from young children."

Press officer for O2 Ltd, Angela Johnson, said: "The radiation levels are hundreds of times lower than an actual mobile.

"There are millions of mobile users, which means there is a need to have more masts in residential areas.

"There is no evidence that these masts are dangerous."