They were enraged when members of Mid Sussex District Council's central area planning committee gave approval for a mast to be put next to the railway embankment and bridge in Balcombe Road, Haywards Heath.

The 10-metre telegraph-style mast with an equipment cabinet at its base will be operated by Orange PCS Ltd. The equipment will replace an existing site at Central Sussex College, on a building that is due to be demolished.

Councillors received 20 letters and two petitions signed by 22 people objecting to the mast because of health fears as well as visual impact and affect on property prices.

But councillors were told that they had no powers to object on health grounds because the mast and equipment met government health and safety requirements.

Officers said the mast would be well screened and its positioning was limited by the embankment.

In a statement after the meeting Barnmead residents David Johnson and Emma-Louise Cartwright said they wanted to form a pressure group to stop the mast.

The statement reads:It took around fifteen minutes for the Council to approve the erection of a mobile phone mast adjacent to the railway bridge and embankment on Balcombe Road, close to Barnmead. We were briefly told with no explanation beforehand that "health concerns" could not be considered - this was our main objection - and then had to endure the circus-like proceedings, during which one Councillor discussed for five minutes whether or not a mast that resembled a tree would be better!

None of the many letters of opposition from local residents were read out and it seemed that Councillors had made up their mind beforehand as to what the outcome would be.

It seems obvious to us why a mobile phone mast is unsuitable to this particular location; this is a highly built up, densely populated area with mainly young families and a school nearby. The health risks are potentially serious ones as cited in various articles, such as the following:

"The evidence is mounting up. Cancer clusters have been noted around several Mobile Phone Masts. However, it is not just cancer we are concerned about - there is a very large range of illnesses and other adverse side effects that are linked to mobile phone technology."
(see http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1687491.ece)

Whilst mobile phone companies like to claim there is NO conclusive evidence of a risk of cancer from mobile phone masts, there is no conclusive evidence that they DO NOT increase the risk either.

This is why the Council's decision seemed particularly irresponsible to us and which is why, towards the end of this item, we felt compelled to tell them from the gallery: "You're here to serve the people" - not the interests of greedy property developers and mobile phone companies, and also posed the question: "Would you like one next your house?" They could not respond.

We recognise the need for mobile phones today, but why can't they cite the masts in less populated areas?

The way in which items were pushed through calls into question the transparency of proceedings and leads one to ask: would the Council derive any pecuniary gain from such developments?

In the light of the recent losses made by the Big Culture Show, could there be a connection?

We are looking to form a pressure group to oppose this scheme and anybody interested should contact us by email