Pagham residents fight roof mast plan

The residents of The Parade have been told by representatives of the properties' owner that he intends to allow a 3G mast to be installed there for the 3 network run by Hutchison.

The structure would be about 4m high and placed on the south west corner, above a former cafe, of the three-storey building.

Lisa Morum and her neighbour, Julie Rowland, have organised a petition opposing the plan.

Some 400 people have signed the petition since it was placed in the businesses along the ground floor of The Parade.

The proposals have also been rejected by the occupiers of eight of the 13 maisonettes on the two floors above the commercial premises.

Assistant accountant Lisa (26) has lived in one of the masionettes with her partner for two-and-a-half years. She explained: "The mast would be on the roof of our home.

"The maisonettes have the bedrooms downstairs and the living area above. So, where we spend most of our time indoors would be directly below the mast.

"There are all sorts of health risks and cancer risks which are linked to these phone masts.

"Nobody really knows whether or not they are safe.

"None of us here want that sort of risk right above our heads.

"Pretty much all the businesses we spoke to were happy to have the petition in their premises.

"No-one among them seemed particularly happy with the mast being here either."

Lisa said at least half of the maisonettes' occupiers had to formally object to the mast for them to be able to have any chance of stopping it.

But, having secured that majority, she was unsure if it would be enough to definitely halt the proposals. She has consulted a solicitor to advise on the best way of proceeding.

The maisonettes are occupied on leaseholds.

The property owner's agent, Philip Alliston of Chichester firm Alliston and Company, has not replied to the Observer about the plans.