TV star joins mast protest

nlnews@archant.co.uk
25 October 2007

Rowland Rivron (centre) with other protesters outside the church

TV PRESENTER and comedian Rowland Rivron has waded into an unholy row over plans for a mobile phone mast in the tower of a Muswell Hill church.

Mr Rivron, of Grasmere Road, joined a mass protest on Sunday outside St Peter-le-Poer church on Sunday, where his son and daughter attend dance classes.

He said: "It's not really needed. It's just a transparent money making attempt. The diocese has enough money swilling about. In the good book they turned water into wine and now they're turning masts into misery."

Campaigner Paul Barnard, 42, a project manager from Colney Hatch Lane, estimated between 40 and 50 people joined the protest.

He said: "Overall we were very pleased about the number of people that turned up given that it was 9.30am on a Sunday morning and very cold.

"We were very grateful to Rowland Rivron for his support and he managed to cheer people up with his quips and jokes."

The campaigners say they have lodged a petition of more than 800 signatures against the installation of a mast at the church in Albion Avenue, off CVolney Hatvh Lane.

They are also trying to persuade people to write to the Chancellor of the Diocese, who has the final say on the matter. The deadline is this Saturday.

"There's no issue with reception, so why is a mast needed," said Mr Barnard. "There are three schools within what is taken to be the most dangerous area for radiation. It's too close to houses and local residents are completely against the mast. We don't fell that few people should be able to impose their will on the vast majority of people who don't want the mast."

Reverend Bruce Bridgewood, vicar at the church, said: "I didn't make anything of the protests at all because there are protests every week.

"How many times can you say the same thing? So they don't want a mast in the church, I think I've got the message.

He said the church was "perfectly satisfied" the mast would operate within government guidelines.

He added it had built in a resolution that if Barnet Council, the government or the Church of England decided masts were unhealthy and should not be around "we would remove them immediately".

"I think you can't say fairer than that, really," he said.

Ayone with views on the mast proposal should write to the Diocesan Registrar, The Old Deanery, Dean's Court, EC4V 5AA.