Parents'anger as mast isinstalled

Angry town and district councillors have called for the Tetra mast, which was installed close to Edward Bryant Primary School and homes in London Road during the school holidays, to be removed as soon as possible amid safety fears.

'We were not consulted on this issue. Clearly the school is concerned and parents have the right to know about it,' said Paul Wells, Arun district and Bognor Regis town councillor.

In a letter which has gone out to parents and residents from Mr Wells and other Liberal Democrat councillors, he said: 'As your local elected representatives, we are not happy with the way Sussex Police has installed the mast, especially so close to a primary school and older people's houses.'

The meeting, which will be attended by a representative from Sussex Police, takes place at the Edward Bryant School in London Road on Wednesday at 6.30pm and anyone who would like to find out more about the mast and ask questions is invited to attend.

The booster mast, said the letter which was installed at the police station in London Road, 'is to give better coverage to Sussex Police for their every day policing needs in the town'.

But Mr Wells continued: 'Other than a notification that it was happening, there was no discussion or consultation before its installation with the community about the possible effect it might have on local residents or Edward Bryant School next door.'

An earlier O2 mast was removed three years ago from the top of Reynolds Depository following a public outcry over the safety of such equipment, when the company's managing director withdrew his permission for its sighting.

Since then the telecom firm now known as Airwave Solutions has had to rely on its nearest mast at Bognor Regis Golf Club in Felpham for police coverage.

Bognor Town Council objected to the proposals by a large margin earlier this year, believing the perceived danger it presented should take precedence.

The police defended its positioning of the mast by saying that it needed the booster to overcome problems in a gap in its radio network coverage in parts of the town.

It followed reports that police officers, responding to incidents such as stabbings and other assaults which happened along the seafront last year, found their radios did not work.

And the situation, it is claimed, is likely to worsen when the system is adopted by fire and ambulances services in the future.

Cathy Williams, the headteacher of the Edward Bryant School which has 410 pupils aged between four and 11, told the Observer on Wednesday that the mast 'was of concern to some parents'.

'We decided to host a meeting as part of the local community so parents, teachers and local residents have the opportunity to talk to the police and mobile phone operator direct and get some information first hand.

'Our stance at the moment is to offer the school as a venue for the community,' said Mrs Williams.

In an earlier statement, Mr Wells said the police were 'highly irresponsible for erecting the mast in such a highly-populated area, which is also close to Hotham Park.'

But commenting on the safety of the Tetra mast, James Stevenson, community relations officer for O2, said: 'The Mobile Telephone Health Research, MTHR, came out two weeks ago and has given us another clean bill of health.'

For more information on the meeting phone any of the local councillors expected to attend: Paul Wells '“ 01243 828984; Arun and town councillor Jeanette Warr '“ 01243 828644; West Sussex county councillor for Hotham and town and district councillor Francis Oppler '“ 01243 583906; or town councillors Greg Burt on 01243 862287 or Rob and Jennie Gillibrand on 01243 866053.