School head worried by phone mast

A head teacher in Lincolnshire has expressed concerns about plans to erect a mobile phone mast near his school.

Phone provider T-Mobile has submitted a bid to put up a mast on West Street in Horncastle, near the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School.

Head teacher Tim Peacock said he had health concerns for his pupils with the mast being so close to the school.

But T-Mobile said there was no scientific evidence to suggest masts caused health issues.

'No effects'

"Perhaps people are asking for a level of proof we'll never get to," said T-Mobile's Richard Owens.

"There have been more than 30 studies over the past six years...and none of them found any adverse side effects from people living near mobile phone base stations.

"There are 65 million mobile phones in circulation. The masts have to be sited near where people live and work, that's how the system works."

But Mr Peacock said he had a duty of care to his pupils.

"T-Mobile have gone out of their way to give us every reassurance that there are no risks associated with ionising radiation," he said.

"Our problem is that we're not really in a position to understand the science of the situation and there's a lot of controversy concerning masts."

Residents in West Street have also put together a petition with more than 80 names opposing the phone mast plans.

The planning application will now go before East Lindsey District Council for consideration.