A MOBILE phone company which applied for permission to put a mast on a Briercliffe mill is considering whether to appeal against Burnley Council's decision to reject its plans.

Hutchison 3G UK wanted a new mast on a chimney at King's Mill, in Queen Street, but last week members of the council's development control committee threw out the proposals on the grounds that it posed a potential risk to people's health.

The application had been met with opposition from local residents with 490 people signing a petition, organised by campaign group Together Against Masts, objecting to it.

They were concerned about the potential health risks and also the visual impact of the mast in what is a conservation area. Mike Alexander, Hutchison 3G UK's community affairs manager, said the company wanted a mast in that area and would now have to consider whether or not to appeal against the decision or look for an alternative site.

He said: "It is important to note that council planning officers had recommended the plans for approval.

"We are rolling out our network in Burnley and we tried to develop a sympathetic design by painting the equipment so that it blended in with the brickwork of the chimney.

"We are trying to provide coverage to meet our licensing agreement and the needs of our customers in a way that is as environmentally acceptable as possible and the planning officers recognised that.

"We recognise people's concerns about the potential health risks, but emissions from this equipment would fall well below the international guidelines.

"We are now reviewing our options, but we are still 100 per cent committed to providing coverage in the area."

Hutchison 3G UK is currently working on proposals for a mast and equipment in Ridge Avenue and is also looking for another five or six mast sites in the town.