Residents to petition over phone mast

Residents are worried about a possible link to tumours

Residents of a village near Leeds are calling on the city council to take "decisive action" against a mobile phone company building a mast in the area.

T-mobile are in dispute with Leeds City Council over whether planning permission was granted for the phone mast in Bardsey.

The company has suspended work while mediation with the council takes place, but has not ruled out plans to erect it in the future.

Last week, protestors temporarily brought a halt to work at the site when they blocked the entrance.

Health concerns

Their opposition is based on fears that low level radiation from the masts could pose a health risk to people living near them.

Scientists have not discovered a firm link between the antenna and cancer, but four residents of the village - which already has masts in the area - have developed brain tumours.

The village's parish council has already passed a motion opposing any further masts in the district.

Hundreds of local residents have signed a petition opposing the plan.

"The petition demands of Leeds City Council that they take decisive action against T-mobile if they continue to attempt erection of this mast," said a spokesman.

Leeds City Council met with T-mobile representatives on Thursday 12 December to find a compromise on the issue.

A council spokesman told BBC News Online: "We are currently holding discussions with T-mobile to try and resolve this matter and work has ceased for the moment."