RESIDENTS are preparing for another battle against a mobile phone company – less than a year after winning their last fight.
People living in Shiremoor were outraged at plans by O² last year to site a 12.5metre mast on the bridge over the Metro line.
That application was rejected following an appeal.
But now residents have been stunned by the decision of rival compan
y Vodafone for a mast a few metres away – but closer to homes and shops.
Yvonne Slater, who organised an 800-name petition to stop the first application, is once again leading the fight, hoping to get as many signatures and people backing her objections as possible.
Mrs Slater, of Park Avenue, says the application, to site the mast on land south of Shiremoor Metro Station, will be nearer houses and will become an attraction for youths.
"We don't want the mast," she said.
"I've been up to see the plans and they are worse than we feared.
"They're nearer to houses than the previous application.
"We've heard in the past about radiation coming off them; there is no 100 per cent guarantee.
"Last year the main concerns were health.
"This new mast is also going to be 12 metres with two equipment boxes put in.
"They're quite some size so the young ones will hang around it."
Within a few days Mrs Slater has already collected nearly 100 signatures after putting up her petition in nearby shops and knocking on residents' doors.
But she is also hoping all those will send letters of objection in as well.
Residents have until August 31 to submit their objections.
A spokesperson for North Tyneside Council confirmed it has received the application, which will see the mast encased, but did not know when the application would be discussed by the planning committee.
