Neighbours who demonstrated and campaigned against a mobile phone base station near their homes have won their campaign.

The Territorial Army has decided against renting part of the roof of its centre in Watling Street, Bexleyheath, to mobile phone company BT Cellnet.

People living near the centre turned their anger on the TA after Bexley Council granted BT Cellnet permission to hide a base station in an ornamental tower on the roof of the centre.

Two schools, St Catherine's RC School for Girls and Gravel Hill Primary had also objected because of fears about the effect of emissions on children's health.

Following the granting of planning permission, the TA revealed to the News Shopper it had not yet made a decision on whether or not to allow the base station to go ahead. And, last week, it wrote to local people announcing it had decided against it.

One of the leaders of the campaign, Julia Burch, told the News Shopper: "The TA has shown it really does care about its neighbours. This will improve its relationship with us. I am very happy. It has made the right decision."

Protesters against a planned Orange mast on the Perry Street Farm, in Crayford, still hope to persuade landowners, Russell Stoneham Estates, not to rent out a site for the mast, which already has planning permission.

One family who lives nearby says it may move because the mother and daughter suffer from a rare blood disorder and fear they may be affected by emissions from the mast.

December 4, 2001 18:11