ANGRY residents are taking on two telecoms giants in a battle to stop them putting up a phone mast near their homes.

Vodafone and O2 have submitted a planning application to Waltham Forest Council for a 15m phone mast, which has been earmarked for the grounds outside the Medina Eggs facility in Shernhall Street, Walthamstow.

But neighbours are challenging the plans because they believe it could be harmful to people who live nearby and hundreds of children who go to schools in the area.

Jeff Baines, who lives with his wife and two children in Shernhall Street, is objecting to the application outright.

He met with Peter Barnett, Wood Street Ward councillor, on Saturday (September 25) to express the views of worried residents.

Mr Baines, whose nine-year-old attends Henry Maynard Primary School in nearby Addison Road, is concerned that children are at a higher risk because they are still growing.

The 47-year-old said: “The consequences of living close to a phone mast are really unknown. Nobody has really studied the long-term health risks it creates.

“Not only are there the possible health implications but also we don't understand why it is necessary here, there aren't really any black-spots for signal in London.

“I can imagine a lot of people will want to move away (if the mast is put up). We live so close – we can see the location from our front door.

"We want as many people as possible to know about this application as it could impact on a lot of people.

“The thing is, we don't know how it's going to affect people 20 years down the line. I think children are definitely more vulnerable as they are still growing.

“At this moment in time, nobody can be sure.”

The council's planning committee is set to make a decision on the application on October 5.

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