Phone mast protestors round on nuisance caller
Southgate residents have reignited their fight against a mobile phone giant determined to build a mast in their neighbourhood.
Orange wants to install an 8m high mast on a central traffic island at the junction of Prince George Avenue and Merrivale.
The company has submitted a revised application to Enfield Council, after the authority turned down its first proposal to build a nine metre mast in October 2005.
Planning bosses turned down the plans after more than 300 residents objected.
Resident Dennis Ambrose, spearheading the latest campaign, is rallying residents to attend a public meeting at the proposed mast spot at 10am on Saturday.
He said: "This proposal has reared its ugly head again.
"We don't want a phone mast here, it will look like a great monstrosity in our neighbourhood, and would destroy the look of a highly residential area.
"We are also concerned about health issues relating to phone masts. Of course phone companies will tell you there is no risk, but how do you really know what health implications there might be years down the line?"
A spokeswoman for Orange said the proposed mast was necessary to keep up with network demand.
She said: "There are now more than 61 million mobile phone subscriptions in the UK and that really gives a good indication of the pressure in networks, Orange included, to build and maintain robust networks.
"The structure would be a replica telegraph pole with wood effect to keep in character with the area.
"It is the most suitable and visually obtrusive design available to us in this situation and there is no reason to believe it would be any more obtrusive than a BT telegraph pole."
4:55pm today
© Copyright 2001-2006 Newsquest Media Group
http://tinyurl.com/jt2e5
Orange wants to install an 8m high mast on a central traffic island at the junction of Prince George Avenue and Merrivale.
The company has submitted a revised application to Enfield Council, after the authority turned down its first proposal to build a nine metre mast in October 2005.
Planning bosses turned down the plans after more than 300 residents objected.
Resident Dennis Ambrose, spearheading the latest campaign, is rallying residents to attend a public meeting at the proposed mast spot at 10am on Saturday.
He said: "This proposal has reared its ugly head again.
"We don't want a phone mast here, it will look like a great monstrosity in our neighbourhood, and would destroy the look of a highly residential area.
"We are also concerned about health issues relating to phone masts. Of course phone companies will tell you there is no risk, but how do you really know what health implications there might be years down the line?"
A spokeswoman for Orange said the proposed mast was necessary to keep up with network demand.
She said: "There are now more than 61 million mobile phone subscriptions in the UK and that really gives a good indication of the pressure in networks, Orange included, to build and maintain robust networks.
"The structure would be a replica telegraph pole with wood effect to keep in character with the area.
"It is the most suitable and visually obtrusive design available to us in this situation and there is no reason to believe it would be any more obtrusive than a BT telegraph pole."
4:55pm today
© Copyright 2001-2006 Newsquest Media Group
http://tinyurl.com/jt2e5
rudkla - 20. Jul, 23:36
