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Middlesex:
United Kingdom Created: 10 Jul 2005
Greater London: Bromley

Council calls on government to change planning plans to change mast regulations

THE long campaign for health fears to become a valid objection against mobile phone masts has stepped up a gear.
Outraged residents have protested against masts of different sizes, many not requiring planning permission, springing up all over the borough.
Radiation detectors have shown high levels in homes close to masts and residents believe the waves are linked to ill-health.
Now Bromley Council is asking the Government for health issues to be considered when looking at planning permission for masts.
It also wants developers to apply for planning permission for all masts, not just the larger ones.
But some residents believe the council's action is too little, too late.
They say back in 2000 the independent Stewart Committee recommended tighter planning laws as a precaution because the effects of masts on health
were still unknown.
The committee also said in January this year health risks could not be ruled out because not enough research has been carried out.
Angela Shields, 37, moved to her home on Footbury Hill Road, Orpington, near the BT telephone exchange on Chislehurst Road, in 2000.
When a mast went up in February, Mrs Shields and her family experienced nose-bleeds, headaches and insomnia until they arranged their furniture
away from the signal.
She said: "The masts are breeding like flies and so many people from Bromley have bad health effects but no-one has listened."
There is currently no scientific evidence to prove the link and laws do not allow councils to consider health concerns.
Councillor Chris Maines proposed the idea of asking the Government to change the regulations over objections.

He said: "This would allow us to come down on the side of health concerns. It would be up to the developer to prove masts are safe."
Deputy council leader Councillor Graham Arthur said: "We are calling on the Government to give us the powers so people can have their say on
all masts and antennae."
By Jolene Hill
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‘Disgraceful’ plan to put phone mast on top of church

A CASH-strapped Highgate church is facing stiff opposition from angry neighbours over plans to place a mobile mast on its ancient spire.
Father Andrew Meldrum, vicar of St Anne's in Highgate West Hill, is weighing up whether to allow an antenna at the Grade II-listed church.
The church could get £10,000 for the deal with T-Mobile, but is consulting with all residents within 150 metres of the church before making a decision.
Deborah and Adrian Laing, who live in Langbourne Avenue near the church, are furious that St Anne's is even considering the plan.
The couple, who are both solicitors, believe that mobile masts are a health hazard and have already started a campaign to stop it.
Mr Laing said: "My wife has already photocopied the letters and is pinning them to trees around the Holly Lodge estate.
"We will do everything in our power to make sure that this does not happen. We can see the spire from our home and we have five young children.
"The church can expect us to take every legal means at our disposal to stop this. We think it is a disgrace."
In his letter to locals, Fr Meldrum said: "If the installation were to proceed, St Anne's would receive an annual fee.
"This would be used to the benefit of the church and community and could provide some stability for long-term projects.
"In terms of the effect of the installation on the surrounding area we are assured that any installation would have no visual effect on the church building or the neighbourhood, as any antennae and accompanying equipment would be housed within the spire of the church."
If permitted the mast would be used to boost coverage on T-Mobile's 3G network. The church is currently engaged in a major renovation project and is expecting to complete work on its roof in mid-October.
While it would like to raise more money to support further works, including £25,000 worth of improvements to its bells, Fr Meldrum said the Parish Church Council (PCC) has not decided what it would use the cash for.
He said: "We deliberately haven't considered what we would do with the money because we don't want it to influence our decision on whether we accept the mobile company's offer."
Those who might want to help the fundraising efforts at St Anne's can send their donations to Father Andrew Meldrum, 106 Highgate West Hill, London N6.
Hamstead and Highgate Express. editorial@hamhigh.co.uk
22 July 2005
Andrew Brightwell. andrew.brightwell@hamhigh.co.uk
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Liberal Democrats join mast protest

LIB DEM politicians in Child's Hill have joined the fight against plans to put up a phone mast near a children's playground.
Barnet councillors Monroe and Susette Palmer have written to mobile company LCC UK urging them to withdraw plans for the mast on Hendon Way.
Mr Palmer said: "This mast would be on the fence of Basing Hill Park, where there is a children's playground that is very well used and a sports school,
also well used.
"The mast will be unsightly, it will undoubtedly be covered with graffiti and it will reduce the width of footway the path to Wessex Gardens School.
Hamstead and Highgate Express. editorial@hamhigh.co.uk. 22 July 2005
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Woodford
Mast victory as council throws out plans

PLANS to erect a mobile phone mast in South Woodford have been thrown out by councillors on the regional planning committee.
The five members of the committee voted overwhelming against the 15-metre telecommunication pole which phone company O2 wants to put up outside Waitrose in the High Road.
A letter sent by the company said that it needed to put up the pole, which was higher than the surrounding street lights, in order to provide proper transmission coverage for both second and third generation phones after a mast on the nearby Queen Mary and Westfield site came down following re-development plans.
The letter said the company had looked for alternative sites, but had discounted putting it near Carnarvon Road, where residents believe the high number of radiation-emitting transmitters was responsible for the high amount of cancer cases in the street.
Also Odeon Cinemas, which has a blanket ban on phone masts on its property, said no to the request for a mast to be put on the South Woodford cinema.
That left O2 with the option of the site near the North Circular, a plan which the committee rejected last week.
But just six weeks ago the Planning Inspectorate in Bristol upheld an appeal from T-Mobile, giving it the go-ahead for a mast on land next to the bowling club in Aldersbrook Road, Wanstead.
This came after Redbridge councillors originally said no and councillor Richard Hoskins believes O2 will also appeal.
He said: "I'm prepared to get into trouble on appeal. I'm sure the planning officers will think we're being irresponsible."
After discussing the public's health concerns about the radiation pumped out by the masts cllrs Richard Hoskins, Felicity Banks, Sue Nolan and Allan Burgess refused the application on grounds that the pole would be visually intrusive and make an already cluttered streetscape worse.
sdixon@london.newsquest.co.uk
3:00pm Friday 8th July 2005
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Wanstead campaigners still stopping the show
Phone mast protest stops traffic
By Dominic Yeatman Wanstead and Wooford Guardian
CONCERNED protestors who are fighting plans for a mobile phone mast in Wanstead, took to the streets in their campaign to have it stopped.
More than 100 parents and residents gathered at the site in Aldersbrook Road, stopping traffic in the evening rush hour on Wednesday, July 6, to draw attention to their cause.
Phone company T-mobile recently won the final appeal in a long legal struggle to have the 10.5-metre mast erected opposite the Aldersbrook Bowls Club, but the location is 200 meters from Aldersbrook Primary School and residents have pledged to continue their fight against the mast.
Campaign organiser Elizabeth Canavan said: "The drivers were for the main part really supportive and were beeping in support.
"It didn't cause havoc but it was a symbolic raising of the banner. We didn't advertise widely for this, mainly at the school, but there's quite a lot of anxiety over this around the whole area."
Construction of the mast started recently but was brought to a halt when Mrs Canavan ran to the site and sat in the hole that had been dug.
Now residents are keeping a close watch for any further work and have promised to prevent any more taking place.
Mrs Canavan said: "We're thinking of picketing local T-Mobile shops. They have won permission for a mast in Centre Road so why can't they use that?"
T-shirts were printed and post cards attached to black balloons were released, one of which reached Belgium before being sent back with a message of support.
After an hour police brought the protest to a halt. There were no arrests.
By Sara Dixon Wanstead and Woodford Guardian.
dyeatman@london.newsquest.co.uk
17.07.05
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Wanstead:
Mum dives in to prevent mast

Mum blocks the mobile mast builders
WANSTEAD residents campaigning against plans for a mobile phone mast are taking direct action and enlisting celebrity support after planning inspectors ruled against them.
Phone company T-mobile have been attempting to get permission for a mast opposite the Aldersbrook bowls club in Aldersbrook Road for nearly two years, and have finally won permission from the Bristol-based planning inspectorate.
The site is just yards from Aldersbrook Primary School, and when news spread on Monday that contractors had arrived to start construction, Merlin Road resident Elizabeth Canavan ran to the spot to stop work.
She jumped in the hole that had been dug on the site to check for gas pipes and electricity cables, and sat down.
She said: "The workmen were very good. One suggested that we all have mobile phones, but I don't and infants and young children don't, and it's just 200 yards from the school where the signal will bathe them in emissions."
Mrs Canavan stayed at the site for three hours and eventually left after the men filled in the hole, but she has pledged to return should work resume.
She says a petition against the mast raised 315 signatures of whom 110 were T-mobile users satisfied with the coverage they already had in the area.
A group called Aldersbrook residents mast solution (ARMS) has been organised and yesterday they lodged an appeal in the High Court against the inspector's decision.
Television celebrity Uri Geller has agreed to sell T-shirts on their behalf at the Aldersbrook primary school fete on Saturday, July 9.
Mrs Canavan said: "This is a rallying call for people in the community. It's near the school and it's near people's houses and we need the community's support in fundraising and campaigning."
For details on the campaign, call 8530 2658 or visit www.maststop. com.
This is Local London 03.07.05. dyeatman@london.newsquest.co.uk.

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Ilford:
Phone mast protests

DETERMINED residents are preparing to do battle in the High Court to stop a mobile phone mast being put up in a conservation area close to a primary school.
Last month, a planning inspector overturned Redbridge Council's refusal and allowed T-Mobile's appeal, granting planning permission for the 11.7m high mast
on land adjacent to the Bowling Club, Aldersbrook Road, Wanstead.
Mother-of-three Elizabeth Canavan, of Merlin Road, Wanstead, rushed to stop work on the site on Monday afternoon and was soon joined by reinforcements.
Sitting on a mound of soil with her 15-month old daughter Eva, Mrs Canavan said she is "completely determined" to protect children at nearby Aldersbrook
Primary School, Harpenden Road, Wanstead, from a potential cancer risk.
The protesters have set up Aldersbrook Residents Mast Solution (ARMS) and served papers on the planning inspectorate on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, a group of angry Newbury Park residents staged a protest on Saturday against plans to erect a mast in the heart of their community.
Ilford Recorder. 30 June 2005
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Enfield
MP meets minister to voice mast concerns

Enfield Southgate MP David Burrowes is pushing for new laws to clamp down on the proliferation' of mobile telephone masts in residential areas.
He had a meeting with Jim Fitzpatrick, a minister in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, yesterday after joining more than 40 residents of Slades Hill, Enfield, at a protest on Saturday morning.
The group, who are concerned about the effect a 30-foot mobile mast would have on their health and property values, have just lost a year-long fight with telecommunications giant Orange, after the application was turned down by Enfield Council but passed on appeal by the Planning Inspectorate.
The deadline for residents to appeal against that decision at the High Court passed on Friday.
Elsa Evans, who lives in Slades Hill opposite the proposed site, admits residents have probably lost the fight against Orange as they would be unable to afford the high costs associated with taking out a civil action.
She said: "We have gone down kicking an d screaming.
"I am going to have my home valued now and then again when the mast is there. I feel like the values of our homes are being snatched away."
Mr Burrowes is angry because he feels current Government legislation does not take local issues into account.
He said: "While the council does what it can, and in many cases refuses permission, it can only do so much.
"People have the choice of whether to buy a mobile phone, but at the moment residents have no choice about a mast being put on their doorstep.
"Especially with new 3G technology, there is the prospect of many more masts, which is a real concern."
He has appealed to Mr Fitzpatrick for changes in the law and has promised to carry on lobbying on behalf of residents.
By Johnathan Schroder Enfield Independent. Thursday 30th June 2005
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London:
Triple phone mast plans rejected

THREE proposals to install phone masts in Three Rivers were rejected last week.
The applications, all for T Mobile, were for masts in Baldwins Lane in Croxley Green, Hill Farm in Stag Lane, Chorleywood, and land at the junction of Valley Road with The Clump in Rickmansworth.
All three were unanimously rejected at a meeting of Three Rivers' development control committee last Thursday.
Council leader and committee member Ann Shaw led the calls for all masts to be rejected.
She said: "The development control committee looks at each mast application individually on its merits in the situation proposed.
"We objected to the masts proposed for Baldwins Lane and the junction of The Clump and Valley Road as too obtrusive and prominent in the street scene.
"The Hill Top Farm site was rejected as inappropriate development in the Green Belt."
Anti-mobile phone mast campaigner Yasmin Skelt, of Chorleywood, said: "Everyone in our group is very pleased with the council's decision.
"Residents joined forces to oppose these applications and the decisions show local democracy in action." For full story see Friday's printed version of the This is Local London. Watford Observer.
11:02am Tuesday 19th July 2005
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London mobile networks overwhelmed

Mobile networks in the UK capital have been gridlocked after the blasts throughout central London. According to the BBC, Vodafone has announced that
it has reserved some network capacity for the emergency service workers dealing with the disaster.
According to Vodafone, all of its switches are at capacity and it is having to free up a portion of the network to ensure that police and emergency services
can communicate, which means that regular customers will not be able to use a proportion of their local base station. The company added that this only
related to a section of the network across London, so people can still make calls but it will be much more difficult to make a call than usual.
According to the BBC, Orange and O2 said there was "congestion" on their networks making it hard to get through on the first attempt. In addition,
Virgin Mobile has stated that as there are so many people making calls it is taking a while for customers to get through successfully.
The problems with the mobile networks has had a knock-on effect on fixed lines phones, said the BBC. In addition, the BBC has revealed that a
spokesman for BT has announced that as so many people were turning to fixed line phones once they found that the mobile network was down that
it too was running near to capacity. BT are asking that people only make essential calls to limit the congestion
Published in Telecomworldwire on Thursday, 07 July 2005
Copyright (C) 2005, M2 Communications Ltd.

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London''
'Don't ignore mast concerns

As an East Finchley resident who lives within 100 yards of Holy Trinity Church and the site of the proposed telephone mast, I am disappointed with your
report (June 16) that there has been no response from the vicar, the Rev Laurence Hill, to protests. I have known him for over 20 years and have previously found him to be very responsive to community concerns.
In the meantime, remarks attributed to Mr John Horsley, QS4 project manager, are only inflaming the situation by trying to belittle the cause of those who are opposed to a potential health hazard that will further encourage the deployment of already over-used mobile phones.
Mr Horsley has also queried the motives of our MP, Rudi Vis.
Dr Vis's conscientious attention to issues such as this which affect his constituents was a major reason why he was returned to Parliament for Finchley
and Golders Green in May of this year.
John Davies,
Manor Park Road, East Finchley
Edgeware and Mill Hill Times 23 June 04

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Nr. London
MOBILE MAST SPARKS HEALTH FEARS

PLANS to install a phone mast near to homes have sparked a protest from dozens of families concerned about the health risk to their children.
Telecommunications company Vodafone sent Elmbridge Council details of their intention to erect a 12-metre mast on land by Somerset Close in Hersham,
near two blocks of flats and several houses.
The site is just yards away from the spot where T-Mobile wanted to erect a 10-metre mast on the roundabout at Queens Road in Hersham.
That application was not approved but T-mobile has lodged an appeal against the council’s decision.
Because of the planning laws surrounding mobile phone masts, applications cannot be rejected on the basis of health concerns.
The council has already received 50 letters of objection about the Vodafone mast.
Mum Tara Howland told the News & Mail: “Nobody I have spoken to wants it and we are all concerned about the health risks although they aren’t
something the council can take into consideration.”
Masts less than 15 metres tall do not need full planning permission. Mobile phone operators only need to give the council prior notification.
If the council objects within eight weeks, permission is refused, but the authority can only do this on the grounds of the mast’s location and appearance.
“Residents are completely outraged,” said Tara. “Vodafone haven’t considered other sites away from people’s homes and they haven’t considered
mast sharing.
“We were surprised to have a minimum of 21 days to object. They just put a notice up on the post a couple of months ago saying they were considering
putting in an application, but nobody has been contacted since. It was the council that contacted me once the application was sent in.
“There are lots and lots of families in this area,” she said. “The residents and the whole community just do not want these masts in and around our village.
If the Government is advising that masts should not be put up near schools, why put one near to where my daughter will be sleeping 10 to 12 hours a night?”
A Vodafone spokeswoman said the proposal was designed to improve their network signal in the area.
“In order for people to use mobile phones – and lots of us do – there has to be nearby base stations,” she said.
“They have to be near because they are very low-powered.
“The guidelines to which we comply are there to protect all of us, 24 hours a day, whether you live nearby or not. Proximity to residences is not the issue.
“It is always regrettable if people feel they have not been consulted when they should be. We do work very hard to try and ensure we consult people,
at the very least at ward councillor level.
“We are always happy to address any concern at any stage in the process. As soon as the application goes in, there is an opportunity, as the
residents have taken, to make their views known.
“We have a requirement in a specific area and moving outside that area would not work for us technically.
“We always consider every option. It is only after taking into account all the various elements that we come up with an option that we put forward
as a planning application.”
Details of the application, number 2005/1172, can be seen at the planning department of the Civic Centre on Esher High Street.
By TONY GREEN. 16/06/2005

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Greater London
Mast plans defeated after parents voice safety fears

PLANS for a phone mast were rejected by councillors after long discussions of the potential health risks.
The mast would have stood 50ft above the ground on Sutherland House, Sutherland Road, Walthamstow, a 1950s commercial building bordering on an
industrial area.
However the site is surrounded by residential properties and towers above both Willowfield School and Hillyfield Primary School.
When residents heard of Vodafone's plans during the Easter holidays, they mounted a campaign to fight it, fearing the possible health impact on schoolchildren and women attending a nearby antenatal clinic.
Residents Against the Mast (RAM) collected signatures on a petition and several residents sent individual letters of objection.
Helen Schafer, of Sutherland Road, spoke at the planning committee meeting and said: "I realise I am by no means alone in feeling sceptical about probable
health risks.
"Two schools were not informed by the council and one made its objection to Vodafone clear.
"Many parents of both schools have not been informed and have no clue their children's health is in danger."
Higham Hill councillors Peter Woollcott and Sean Meiszner spoke out against the mast, highlighting the 200 homes planned for the site of the old mill, only
yards away from the proposed mast.
A spokesman for Vodafone claimed the radiation towards nearby schools and homes would be only "a small amount" and complied with Government
guidelines, so the planning committee could not reject the mast on health grounds and rejected it on the basis of adverse visual impact on the area.
Seven councillors rejected the plans and only two voted in favour of the mast.
Waltham Forest Guardian Thursday 23rd June 2005

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Greater London
Masts making us ill

A SCIENTIFIC researcher says residents are being directly affected by high levels of mobile mast radiation found in their homes.
Ingrid Dickenson, director of scientific studies at anti-phone mast group Mast Sanity, recorded high levels of the radiation in four homes near to the 3G mast antennaes in Chislehurst Road, Orpington.
Residents, who have been campaigning for four years to remove the phone mast, say they have been suffering from headaches, sleeplessness and dizziness.
Mrs Dickenson says these symptoms, which also include tinnitus and nose bleeds, are the effects of non-thermal mobile mast radiation.
Susan Green, 40, and her 10-year-old son Christian, have been experiencing the symptoms since the 3G antennaes were put up in March.
They say the link between the masts and their ill health was confirmed a fortnight ago when they were switched off for a week's maintenance and their complaints disappeared.
Mrs Dickenson has been working on phone mast emissions with radiation experts from Europe and America since 1995.
She says the Government's current advice on mobile masts is misguided.
Mrs Dickenson said: "They say mobile phone radiation is not high enough to heat the body so is therefore safe.
"The National Radiological Protection Board is stubbornly refusing to look at the non-thermal effects.
"But non-thermal radiation does have a real effect, with the first symptoms being sleep disturbance, headaches and nosebleeds."
Mrs Green said: "I was not expecting the readings to be sky high. The news is devastating for me and my son."
Her next door neighbour Heather Lewis said: "My family have been suffering from headaches and sleeplessness.
"Mrs Dickenson's readings showed our bedroom was saturated with pulse radiation.
"I'm now going to buy metallic blinds to stop the radiation from coming through the window."
Bromley News Shopper. By Samantha Payne. reprinted 21.06.05
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Greater London
Council will fight phone mast laws

BROMLEY Council is to take on the Government over laws which see mobile phone masts imposed on communities against the wishes of planners.
But campaigners who have fought against the masts in the borough say it is too little too late.
In an official letter to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) the council states its concerns at the "present inability through the planning process to act in the best interests of local residents".
Currently Bromley Council has to follow Government guidelines when granting applications for masts, even if residents are fiercely opposed.
Masts under 15m do not require planning permission, making it difficult to control clusters springing up in residential areas.
It says the 56-day period for councils to consider an application before it is automatically accepted is not enough to carry out adequate consultation within the community.
The letter was prompted by a proposal from Orpington councillor Chris Maines at the council meeting on June 14, who asked the Government publish up-to-date health advice on masts.
He is also calling for planning permission to be required for all but the tiniest signal boosters and public consultation be improved.
Orpington Residents Against Masts (RAM) has welcomed the action but says it should have happened long ago.
Member Sue Green said: "I'm pleased to hear this but it's a case of too little too late. It should have happened four years ago."
The council is also enlisting the help of the borough's MPs.
Orpington MP John Horam said: "This is essential and I will be writing in support of Bromley Council.
"It is wrong masts which are almost 15ft high do not require planning permission."
The independent Stewart Committee, headed by Sir William Stewart in 2000, recommended tighter planning laws as a precaution because the effects of the masts were still unknown.
This was echoed by the new chairman of the committee Professor Lawrie Challis in January, who says the health risk cannot be ruled out because not enough research has been conducted.
By Jolene Hill. This is Local LondonTuesday 21st June 2005

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Greater London
Round two in mast fight to residents

Residents have chalked up a second victory in their fight against mobile phone masts.
People living near the A2 in Arbuthnot Lane, Bexley, were delighted when the council's planning committee turned down an application by Hutchison 3G(UK) for a mast and equipment on a grassed area in Torbrook Close.
Last year they fought off another application from T-Mobile for a mast in Iris Avenue, just the other side of the A2.
On behalf of the residents, Ian Lowe outlined their fears about the effects of microwave radiation from the mast on residents and especially children.
He reminded councillors: "We already have to live with the blight of the A2."
Councillors unanimously rejected the plan without discussion, because the company had not been able to show it was the only viable site and also because of the damage it would do to the street.
11:04am Tuesday 21st June 2005

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London:
Parents win campaign over phone mast

CAMPAIGNERS in Highgate have won their fight to stop a mobile phone mast going up near their children's school.
Mobile phone giant O2 wanted to put a freestanding 12.5m mast on the pavement in Aylmer Road, just 200m from Highgate Primary School
in North Hill.
More than 180 people signed a petition against the proposal and Haringey Council planners refused the application last week.
But parent Andrea Klein, who has a son at the 366-pupil school, said: "The mast has been refused but sadly for the wrong reasons.
It was refused because it is in a conservation area, near Metropolitan Open Land and Transport for London also objected to having it on their pathway.
"It was lucky for us but we are continuing to fight for other reasons, such as health, to be just as valid.
Hampstead and Highgate Express. editorial@hamhigh.co.uk. 17 June 2005

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Dulwich:
Fake trees in London? I think not!

Anger over fake tree mobile phone masts Jun 7 2005
MOBILE phone firms hope to stick two telecom masts in leafy Dulwich - disguised as Cypress trees.
Only a handful of "tree masts" exist in Britain and these would be South London's first.
Residents have scoffed at the idea, saying the plastic foliage would look ridiculous - especially in winter.
Yesterday, protesters voiced their concerns at the proposed site for the trees.
It is the Dulwich Estatesowned Pelo playing field off Gallery Road.
Adrian Hill, chairman of the Dulwich Society, said: "The existing trees are deciduous. They'll lose their leaves.
"It will look ridiculous and the plastic foliage will not blend in.
"We think they're in the wrong place.
"They'll be very prominent."
The masts, from telecom companies Orange and Vodafone, could be up to 60ft tall.
As yet, no formal application has been lodged with Southwark council to install them.

Ideal
John Major, chief executive of the Dulwich Estates, defended the proposal, saying the site was ideal.
"The trustees have formulated a policy over the years to work proactively with communications companies," he said.
"That way we have some say about where the masts go.
"The alternative is that they [telecoms companies] could put masts on pavements or public highways - areas outside our control in Dulwich - close to homes, the school, or the library for example.
"This way we can identify sites that are away from homes and away from the school.
"The Pelo site is one of these."
Orange was the first telecom company in the country to introduce masts disguised as trees.
Currently, manufacturers offer two evergreen models - Scots pines and Cypress.
A company spokeswoman said: "If we were to use an English tree such as an oak, the development would look very out of place during the autumn and winter when the real trees shed their leaves."
By Chris Pragnell, South London Press. Jun 7 2005

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Redbridge:
School fights plan for mobile mast

WORRIED parents claim drivers outside Snaresbrook Primary School will not be able to see children crossing the road if plans for
a mobile phone mast are approved.
Phone company T-Mobile wants to erect a 9.7-metre mast and two base cabinets at the junction of Meadow Walk and Woodford High Road,
200 yards from the gates of the school.
Councillors and parents assembled at the site on Sunday, and conducted their own experiment replicating the impact of the cabinets
which they say demonstrated the danger of the proposals.
Parent Nic Shastri, who has two children at the school, said: "We set up a large cardboard box to the size of the proposed cabinet
and we had four children waiting to cross the road. If you were a driver waiting to turn in you wouldn't have seen them.
"Parents have to walk to school these days because there is a double yellow line in Meadow Walk patrolled by traffic wardens.
We have had three recent deaths in Woodford Road and it's a notorious accident blackspot."
Telecom company Marconi is handling the application for T-Mobile and Wanstead MP Harry Cohen has written to it highlighting the objections.
Headteacher Dennis Murray said he had real concerns. He said: "There are two issues, potential health concerns and where they want to
site it because it could obstruct drivers' vision.
It's a health and safety issue and I can't believe that any company would consider putting one there."
A T-Mobile spokesman said: "T-Mobile understands there sometimes can be concerns when locating base stations in communities.
As part of the pre-consultation process we're considering a number of options in the area and gathering feedback from local concerned parties."
A formal planning application has yet to be submitted to Redbridge Council and Marconi has given residents until May 31 to make comments on the proposals. Write to Jonathan Walton, Marconi APT, Blays House, Wick Road, Englefield Green, Egham, Surrey, TW20 OHJ.
This is local London: By Dominic Yeatman dyeatman@london.newsquest.co.uk

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CHINGFORD:
Mobile masts cause concern over health

CHINGFORD is being bombarded with phone mast applications, say local residents.
Fears about the number of phone masts being put up in the area were raised at a North Chingford Community Council meeting.
Local people said they were dismayed when a recent planning application for a mast at Chingford Hatch was rejected by Waltham Forest Council,
only to be overturned on appeal.
They asked if the council could take up the issue on behalf of residents and bring the case to the High Court.
A number of local people said health concerns were their main grievances against phone masts and councillors were asked if the authority
could monitor the levels of signal intensity from the masts.
Last Wednesday council leader Clyde Loakes said that the issue of phone masts was a national problem due to the increasing number
of people using mobile phones.
He said he could not justify using thousands of pounds of council tax money to get a High Court order to overturn planning permission
allowing phone masts to be put up.
Cllr Marion Fitzgerald said: "These masts are going up everywhere but if we took these cases to the High Court they would be shot down
in flames.
"The council is doing as much as it can about it.
"But we need the input of all of you to help us when the applications come through."
By Naomi Wright. This is Local London

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London Underground stations

All 275 London Underground stations are to get full mobile phone coverage within three years.
The decision follows a huge response from telecoms firms interested in installing the technology.
About 65 firms said they may bid for the £150million contract...

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