Telecom firm's delay claim denied

No decision will be made by the States without relevant information

A telecom company has criticised the States of Jersey, claiming it has taken too long to assess the impact mobile phone masts have on health.

Cable & Wireless (C&W) has applied to build four masts in Jersey and wants a decision by 10 May.

Chief executive David Smith said consumer choice was affected while the company waited for planning approval.

But the States said it would not make a decision until C&W had supplied all the necessary information.

Radiation levels

Peter Thorne, the States director of planning, told BBC News he was surprised at the criticism.

He denied there had been a hold up of the application and said his department was waiting for Cable & Wireless to supply information and certificates, including mast radiation levels.

Mr Thorne said without that information, no decision would be made and added that C&W had supplied "only a trickle" of information since 16 March.

C&W, which was granted a licence to compete with Jersey Telecom, has applied to build masts at Bonne Nuit Slipway, La Rue de la Hambye in St Saviour and La Grande Route de Rozel in St Martin.

It also wants permission to erect a telegraph pole off La Rue de la Scelletterie in St Lawrence.