Phone mast will go up

When Thomas Street residents were told a telecommunications company wanted to install mobile phone equipment on top of the town's telephone exchange they collected more than 200 signatures from objectors.

But Wigan planning department has given Hutchison 3G UK the green light to install a radio base station on the exchange rooftop.

Furious Cllr Bob Splaine said it was scandalous that plans were approved when there were such strong objections.

He said: "The people do not want it. They are the ones who have got to live with it. This has really annoyed me. It is a disgrace."

Cllr Splaine is angry that the plans were not considered by a committee and were approved instead by council officers.

And he is also concerned about the possible health risks.

He said: "Who knows if it damages your health or not and there's two schools nearby?"

Thomas Street resident and nurse Jane Woodward said she thinks her objections have been brushed aside and is deeply concerned about possible health risks.

She said: "Why did they bother letting us know it was going ahead when they are not going to take notice of what we want? It seems like a paper shuffling exercise to me."

A Wigan Council spokesman said the proposal did not need to be considered by a committee because it differs significantly from a planning application.

He added: "Residents' objections were taken into account, but in these cases our powers extend only as far as the siting and appearance of the equipment.

"The Government has told us that if operators provide evidence that the equipment meets international guidelines then health effects should not be considered further."

However, the council's explanation did not satisfy Miss Woodward.

She said: "I am very angry. I feel that my hands are tied by a bunch of bureaucrats. Don't they realise the effect it will have? Some governments around the world are so concerned that they won't allow mobile phone masts within 500 yards of homes."