By Stephen Bailey

5:00pm Friday 11th May 2007

AN error could spell at least temporary defeat for a phone mast plan that has frightened Great Sankey residents.

T-Mobile wrote to the wrong councillors in its consultation over the pole planned for near Sycamore Lane Primary School.

The error was spotted by parish and borough councillor Keith Gleave at last Wednesday's parish council meeting.
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Mobile masts are difficult to defeat because the Government has said health concerns are not a valid objection - so the technical error could be a way of objecting.

A decision on the mast is due on June 12 and the consultation period has finished, though this could be extended due to the errors.

Clare Earps, chairman of the school governors, asked the parish council's backing in the fight against the mast planned for near the walkway over Sankey Way, by the school.

She said 110 parents had objected already.

And resident William Roslee told the meeting: "I'm going to be long out the window at this 24/7."

His neighbour, Eric Blakely, said: "Who wants to buy a house with radiation pole stuck in the garden?"

The council warned objections should be made on the grounds of impact on residents' life, the visual impact, and the general strength of residents' feelings - not health or house price concerns.

A spokesman for T-Mobile said: "Unfortunately there was an error with the postcode allocated to our site which meant that the consultation plan was incomplete.

"As soon as Warrington Borough Council pointed out the postcode error we immediately changed our plans, wrote to the school and the appropriate local councillors."