Nursery closure threat over mast

The nursery is situated near a mast in Dunblane

The owner of a nursery in Dunblane said she may have to close her business because of plans by a mobile phone company to use a nearby radio mast.

The mast, which is owned by Scottish and Southern Electricity, is located 20m away from Hummingbird House Nursery in the Ramoyle area of the town.

Mobile company Orange has been given permission to share the mast in a bid to enhance its coverage.

Nursery owner Maria Craig said she was concerned about possible health risks.

She told BBC Scotland: "I feel very strongly about this issue.

Although it has very low emissions at the moment, my concern is that they are going to increase capacity Maria Craig

"I would find it untenable to walk into this nursery every day knowing that the children in my care are could be at risk from the emissions of this mobile phone mast.

"Financially it would be devastating for me but I think there is a higher issue at stake here - that is the well-being of the children."

Around 100 children between the age of five months and five years currently attend the nursery.

Mrs Craig said that while she knew a mast was there when she opened the nursery four years ago, it was only after she opened the business that she discovered it was a mobile phone mast.

Planning policy

"Although it has very low emissions at the moment, my concern is that they are going to increase capacity."

Scottish and Southern Energy said in a joint statement with Orange that the proposal they had put forward had met both national and local planning policy by utilising an existing site and not putting up a new mast in Dunblane.

The statement added that the companies were seeking to protect essential mobile phone coverage because 1.5 million calls were made in the Dunblane area last year.

A public meeting will be held on Monday night about the future of Hummingbird House Nursery.