Residents to battle with mobile phone giant

4:21pm Thursday 11th March 2004

RESIDENTS are preparing to fight a controversial re-application by telecommunications giant Hutchinson 3G (H3G) to erect a mobile phone mast in Watford.

The company, which is looking to establish a national network in Britain, wants to install a 12-metre tall "ultra-slim" mast at the junction of The Ridgeway and Courtlands Drive, a busy residential area.

An earlier application in July 2000 was thrown out by Watford Council after hearing that the mast would be just 32 metres away from the nearest house and double the height of nearby trees.

At the time, more than 400 residents objected to the mast, saying it was unsightly, damaging to the environment and its emissions could have potential long-term health effects.

Meanwhile, it also emerged this week that T-Mobile and MMO2 are looking for new mast sites in the Nascot/Park area.

Hempstead Road seems to be the favoured location, but several other locations are also under consideration.

A meeting to discuss the H3G application and other phone mast issues will be held on Wednesday at 7.30pm at West Herts College, Hempstead Road.

The council is due to rule on the H3G application on Monday, March 29.