NEIGHBOURS have given a mixed response to plans for a 12.5 metre mobile phone mast at the Golden Eagle pub in Haywards Heath. The proposed G2 mast by telecommunications company O2 does not require planning permission because it is covered under permitted development at the site in America Lane. Planners expect the mast, which is to be disguised as a flag pole, to be built in the next four to five months.
Residents have greeted the plans with a mixture of fear for the health implications on the local area and tolerance. Deputy Manager of Martin's in America Lane, Jo Bowen, said she was not happy about the impact the mast may have on children. She said: "I would be a hypocrite to say I was concerned about the health effects on me because I have a mobile phone but it's an estate full of children and radiation is a concern. "In this area there are a lot of young children hanging around down at the green and at the football club." Manager of Sawyers Health Club Julian Drage was surprised neighbours had not been notified in advance. He said: "We were a little surprised we weren't notified the mast was going up in the general area. We would have liked to have been informed so we could have considered the possible health implications on our customers." O2 have said the new G2 mast is necessary to improve general network coverage and to cater for a predicted growth in population in the area over the next few years. A Boston road resident, who did not wish to be named, supported the move. She said: "I've got no problems. Everyone uses mobile phones. There's no written evidence that it causes cancer. I'm happy to live within close proximity to it as long as it's disguised." Spokesperson for O2 James Stevenson said he expected there to be more communication with residents over the next few weeks. He said: "We've got permission but we're going to talk to the residents before we put it up. "We're going to tell them what we're proposing and put it forward to them. We want to explain ourselves a bit better than we have of late. We've written to some people and we will talk to them. If they want, we will have an all day session. It may be somebody will suggest a better location."
Posted on Thursday, August 17 @ 18:20:19 UTC by admin
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