Residents in Derby have praised the local paper for helping to stop a mobile phone mast being put up near a secondary school.

The Derby Telegraph pleas for help from residents after they heard about the planned location of a 15-metre high BT Cellnet mast in Darley Dale.

And now thanks to the Telegraph, which brought their plight to the attention of Powergen, the company tjhat owns the land involved, BT is now looking for a new location.

Residents found out about the proposed siting of the mast on Good Friday, giving less than a week to make any formal objection.

They immediately contacted the newspaper about possible health hazards, particularly as it was going to be located close to St Benedict Catholic School.

BT Cellnet did not need to apply for planning permission as the mast is less than 15 metres, but the council was obliged to let residents know of the plans.

Powergen had expressed its concerns already about the plans, and with the help of the Telegraph got BT to do a U-turn.

Resident Carol Cunningham, of Dufffield Road, said: “We are very grateful to the Evening Telegraph and Powergen for stopping this.”

Duncan Inwood, from the council’s planning and technical services, said the council would let people as soon as they know about the new location of the mast.

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