PARISH councillors have disagreed over plans to erect a 17.5 metre high mobile phone mast in Burtonwood.

The transmitter, applied for by telecom companies O2/Vodafone, would be based on Burtonwood Road, near Whittle Avenue and Westbrook Way.

Clr Terry O’Neill, for Burtonwood and Westbrook Parish Council, said: “This would be a health hazard at a busy junction. The position is not suitable. It would affect the highway.”

Clr Judith Guthrie agreed and added: “It is like a ‘mast city’ around here already.”

But Clr John Joyce disputed this and said: “I’ve no objections. If you’re going to put it somewhere then why not there?”

Warrington Borough Council’s transport development department has examined the surrounding area and its roads, including drivers’ sightlines, footpaths and other street furniture such as signs and lamps.

A spokesman said: “I would offer no highway objections to the application subject to confirmation that the mast and associated equipment will be set back at least two metres from the footpath to allow for future widening.”

In addition O2/Vodafone has promised that the mast would comply with radio frequency exposure guidelines. In 2000 the parish council agreed to introduce a new policy of objecting to mobile phone masts installed within 200 metres of educational buildings or 100 metres of residential buildings.

Two years later residents joined forces with the council and submitted more than 100 letters of objection against an application to erect a 12.5 metre tower on the corner of Cromwell Avenue and Shackleton Close.

At the time, T-Mobile withdrew the application before it could reach the monthly planning meeting.

It also scrapped plans for another mast whkich was proposed for the corner of Cromwell Avenue and Old Hall Road.

Warrington Borough Council’s planning committee will rule on the new application.