Phone mast protest is spelt out

Residents spell out their objection to the mast

Hundreds of campaigners used people power to spell out their objections to the installation of a mobile phone mast in east London.

Organisers said up to 200 people from Wanstead laid down on Wanstead Flats and used their bodies to spell the words "No T-Mobile Mast".

T-Mobile has been granted permission to install a mast in Aldersbrook Road.

The company said it was confident its base stations "did not present a health risk to the public".

The company won an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate after its initial application was turned down by Redbridge Council.

Campaigners say the mast and equipment is too close to Aldersbrook Primary School and surrounding houses.

Concerns

Elizabeth Canavan, campaign organiser, said: "We are very lucky to be surrounded by open green space", and maintained there were alternative spots for the mast that are not close to the school and houses.

She appealed to T-Mobile to "abandon this site for one that we feel would not be such a risk to our children".

A T-Mobile spokesman said they appreciated "there sometimes can be concerns when locating base stations in communities.

"Without a network of base stations, however, mobile phones simply do not work."