By Andrew Clarke

Published at 15:47, Wednesday, 15 July 2009

MOBILE phone company O2 has announced it will delay the building of a controversial mast close to Hensingham School.

EMERGENCY COUNCIL MEETING: Hensingham Primary School headteacher Robin Lacey with members of his school council look at the plans for the new mobile phone mast that is planned for the land just behind them. They are taking to task their adult counterparts on Copeland Council for giving it the go-ahead

The one-month delay will give the company a chance to speak to those protesting about the plans, including representatives from the nearby primary school and local residents, and to look at alternative sites for the 12½-metre mast.

The Whitehaven News has learned that a number of alternative sites, including land near the fire station at Hensingham, are now being considered jointly by O2 and Cumbria County Council.

“This is welcome news and I am pleased that O2 will get the chance to hear our views and we look forward to meeting with them,” said Robin Lacey, headteacher at Hensingham Primary. “I hope that one of the alternative sites will be suitable.”

Mr Lacey, with the backing of the school governors and parents, vowed last week to “kick up a stink” to stop the mast being built on Richmond Hill Road, only 80 metres from the school grounds.

His objections centred on health and safety grounds, and although O2 say the mast would not be detrimental to the schoolchildren’s health, they will listen to the objectors’ views.

“We have spoken to Cumbria County Council and they have old us that there will be space at the fire station if we want to look at this again,” said an O2 spokesman. “I have agreed to do this and have also put the build of the mast on hold for a month, so that we can look and meet with the people who are protesting about the site.”

Published by http://www.whitehaven-news.co.uk