BATTLING pensioners have defeated an attempt by a mobile phone giant to mount a mast on the roof of their sheltered accommodation in Gravesend.

Residents of Wimbourne House, in Taunton Vale, were allowed to vote on whether the owners of the building, Shaftsbury Housing, should be allowed to put the Hutchison 3G mast on the roof.

And the result was a resounding "no", much to the relief of neighbours, who alerted residents to the scheme while collecting a 200-signature petition against the proposal.

Retired shop assistant, Silvia Shovlar, 64, of Taunton Vale, said: "We are all very pleased the residents voted not to have it because we simply do not know what the risks are.

"If we had not told them what was going on I don't think they would have found out until it was too late because the mobile company had already gone and got planning permission."

But Shaftsbury Housing denied it would have done anything without the residents' consent.

Spokesman Malcolm Bronell said: "There is no way we would have gone ahead with this without consulting the residents."

Mobile phone company Hutchison 3G is now looking for somewhere else to put the mast.

July 9, 2002 12:30