A GROUP of residents are protesting over plans to install a mobile phone mast just metres from their homes.

Vodafone has submitted an application to West Wiltshire District Council to install a 12-metre high telegraph pole mast and equipment box on land next to Trowbridge Garden Centre in Frome Road.

Residents are concerned about the potential health risks associated with mobile phone masts and are angry because they say only a few houses have received notices from the council.

Sarah Balchin, of St Margaret's Close, said: "I am absolutely furious. The first we have heard about it is the notification from the planning office.

"They only contacted about 12 houses nearby so a lot of people aren't aware of it.

"They said it is going to be a 12m high wooden telegraph-like pole that will be in keeping with all the other telegraph poles around.

"But it's just the fact that it's an unknown health risk. It's not knowing.

"I have two small children - how can they give me any guarantee they're not going to be affected in 10-15 years' time?"

Mrs Balchin believes more properties in Frome Road, Gainsborough Rise, Manor Road, Warburton Close and Manor Court sheltered housing should have been informed.

She added that there was a playgroup nearby and she was concerned over the possible side effects of radiation levels from the mast.

"They say in the documents that they don't want to site it at Clarendon College because they were conscious of putting masts on schools, but what about my children and the pre-school?" she added.

A spokesman for Vodafone said the mast was to provide better 3G coverage for the area.

He added: "This location was chosen after consideration of 11 other sites as it provides a backdrop of trees against which the proposed radio base station will not be visually intrusive.

"We have consulted the local ward councillor, the parish council and four local primary schools. The only response we received was from a school stating that they had no objection to the proposal.

"All of our base stations are designed, built and operated in accordance with stringent international guidelines laid down by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection.

"The adoption of these guidelines has the formal backing of independent bodies such as the World Health Organisation."