Protest over bid for church phone mast

nlnews@archant.co.uk
17 October 2007

PROTEST: Barnet councillor Kate Salinger

A MASS protest is to be held outside a Muswell Hill church on Sunday after the minister and parish council decided to press ahead and apply for permission to put a mobile phone mast on the spire.

Campaigners claim that more than 800 signatures have been lodged against plans by Reverend Bruce Bridgewood to allow 3G to build a mast on St Peter-le-Poer church.

Councillor Kate Salinger, who sits on Barnet Council, is a key member of the protest team who have called on residents to take part in the "peaceful" demonstration.

Councillor Salinger (Conservative), of Coppetts ward, said: "What has angered me is the scant regard made by the church to local opposition."

The Government has agreed that caution should be exercised in terms of location for new phone masts, and Councillor Salinger said that there were key areas of concern relating to the proposed mast

The first was its close proximity to Coppetts Wood Primary School, in Coppetts Road, which has not been consulted on the proposals.

If it goes ahead, the mast will also be close to new flats built in the grounds of the church, and a nearby playing field.

The Chancellor of the Diocese of London has the final say on whether the mast can be installed on the roof and objectors have until October 27 with their views.

Following the demonstration, protesters will launch a new strand of its campaign - a health check of residents living in the area.

Paul Barnard, campaign group member, said that the survey will be carried out on all those living within 300 metres of the proposed mast.

He added: "Should the installation proceed, we will have a reference point by which to judge the health impact on residents."

Father Bridgewood, of St Peter-le-Poer Church, said: "There was a petition of 800 people but the genuine signatures added up to only about 300 or 350. If people who are against it had taken the trouble and wrote letters then I may have taken those objections more seriously.

"We have listened to the objections - the point is we just disagree with them.