O2 mast and village school do not mix

Lyminster Infant School head teacher Merril Lucraft and around 50 parents objected to 02's proposal for a 50ft-tall, slimline "monopole" mast, with three shrouded antennae, when it was considered by Arun councillors in March last year.

The council's development control committee objected to the mast and now, after a planning appeal, the inspector, David Harmston, has also refused 02 permission.

Although the mast would have been more than 100m away from the school, Mr Harmston said it was considered to be "near" within government planning guidelines. The fact that 02 had failed to consult the school before submitting its application was also significant, he added.

The inspector considered that the presence of the mast close to the school would be likely to generate "genuine and significant fears and apprehension, however unjustified", to the extent that the harm this caused to the well-being of children, parents and staff should not be condoned.

He was not satisfied that an alternative, suitable location for the mast, meeting 02's technical needs, could not be found elsewhere in the area.

The mast would have been sited north-west of the A259 roundabout, opposite the school.

At the time of Arun's decision to object to the 02 proposal, Mrs Lucraft said: "We just don't know what the long-term implications are of mobile phones and these masts.

"It's my job, as head, to try to protect young children as much as I can. The government has said masts should not be erected within 100 metres of schools and that, for any proposed masts within 250m of schools, the applicants should consult with schools, but they did not consult us."

Arun councillor for Littlehampton River ward, Mark Butler, who has campaigned strongly against communication masts, and particularly the new Sussex Police Tetra radio system, welcomed the inspector's decision.

"I'm absolutely delighted. The fact that this has been turned down means it will be safer for that school. It shows that people are listening to concerns about putting masts near to schools."