A SCHOOL has joined hundreds of residents from the Beckfield Lane area of York who are protesting to stop the erection of a mobile phone mast.

Northfield School, in Beckfield Lane, is only metres from the proposed site of a BT Cellnet mobile phone mast at 127 and 129 Beckfield Lane, near the Co-op store.

Residents have already expressed concerns over health issues relating to the mast and Bill Ford, head

teacher at the school, has joined the battle.

Mr Ford said: "We are disappointed not to have been consulted about the proposal to site a mobile phone transmitter pole in Beckfield Lane so close to the school.

"Whilst recognising that there may be no current scientific evidence of risk to health through exposure to radio frequency waves below the national guidelines, we do nonetheless recognise the concern expressed by the residents of Beckfield Lane, not only over the health concerns, but also over the erection of an unsightly mast in such a location."

More than 200 residents signed a petition in only two days and have sent it to City of York Council this week before a decision is made by planning officers by March 15.

A spokeswoman for the City of York Council said an application had been received and because the mast was below 15 metres it did not have to be referred to the planning committee.

She said councillors on the planning committee for that area would be notified of the petition and comments would be welcomed and taken into consideration in the decision-making process.

A spokeswoman for BT Cellnet said: "The National Radiological Protection Board - an independent body - and other reputable agencies have advised that there is currently no convincing scientific evidence of a risk to health through exposure to radio frequency waves below the national guidelines.

"We attempt to locate, as far as possible, new base stations on sites that minimise their social impact on the local community whilst ensuring the public's expectation of good quality of service is met."

Updated: 11:15 Saturday, March 03, 2001