A MOBILE phone mast is set to be built at a poultry farm -- despite objections from a nearby school.

Councillors will be told tomorrow that they have no power to block the 15-metre-high mast, to be used by Cellnet. It will be sited at Knuzden Brook Poultry Farm, Haslingden Road, Oswaldtwistle, close to St Oswald's CE Primary School.

A letter of protest from the school to Hyndburn Council development services committee, which meets tomorrow, says: "We wish to alert planning officers to the close proximity of the proposed tower to the the school. "In view of recent findings on mobile phones, we are concerned that the beam of greatest intensity of signals will cross on to the school playground or buildings."

A 74-signature petition has also been received, complaining that residents have not been given enough notice.

Councils can only argue against mobile phone masts of 15 metres if they feel they will become a blot on the landscape. A planning spokesman said: "The mast will be seen against a backdrop of the poultry farm so we cannot support refusal of the scheme on these grounds.

"In dealing with these submissions, the local planning authority can only consider the siting and design of the proposed mast and no other matters.

"This means we cannot take into consideration concerns regarding the close proximity to the school and any potential risks healthwise as stated in the letter we have received.

"The Stewart report published in May says the balance of evidence indicates no general risk to people living near to base stations and masts."

The spokesman added: "A notice was placed giving details of the development and this was sited on Haslingden Road."