30082/1RESIDENTS living near the site of a planned 38ft phone mast in Melksham spoke out against the application at a town council meeting on Monday.

People from Burniston Close and Churchill Avenue were at Melksham Town Hall to hear councillors discuss the plan to put a phone mast on a grass verge off Sandridge Road, opposite a petrol station.

Vodafone originally told the town council it welcomed suggestions about where the mast could be sited, and said a planning application would only be submitted after councillors' views had been heard.

But former mayor Vic Oakman criticised the latest consultation letter from Waldon Telecom, the acquisition agent for Vodafone, which said although it had outlined five potential sites, four had already been ruled out.

Cllr Oakman said the phone firm was only focused on the Sandridge Road site.

"They've done all the groundwork on options B, C, D and E and it smacks to me that all of a sudden there is an urgency to put this mast in place," he said.

Ken Mitchell, of Burniston Close, whose bungalow is just 12 metres from the verge that has been earmarked by Vodafone for the mast, said: "As far as I'm concerned it's totally inappropriate. If this materialises we would be virtually in the shadow of this mast.

"Radiation is our main concern. We feel very strongly about this and we are very upset."

Former agricultural engineer Mr Mitchell, 78, said he was also shocked to learn the site was directly above a mains water pipe.

He said: "Who in their right mind would place a mast directly over a water pipe that feeds the town?"

Mr Mitchell said residents were being kept in the dark about the mast.

Following up residents' concerns Cllr Oakman said: "I feel the district council should object to this application, for being too close to the houses, being too close to Forest and Sandridge School and being too close to the possible site of a new school."

Committee chairman Cllr Sarah Cardy said: "Our position as a council has always been against masts. I propose that we make a clear statement that this mast is not located near schools or residential housing."