A NURSERY school owner today attacked a decision to approve a mobile phone mast plan - sited just yards from her building.

Allyson Bolland claims she was not properly consulted by council chiefs who passed an application, from BT Cellnet, to build a mast about 50 yards from Jemima's Day Nursery, on the Fulford Industrial Estate.

Mrs Bolland says she now fears for the health of youngsters attending the nursery, in Hospital Fields Road.

And the 41-year-old believes the decision, agreed by senior managers at City of York Council on September 5, could have catastrophic consequences for her business.

For she thinks parents, worried by health concerns about masts, will take their children out of her nursery.

Mrs Bolland said: "I only found out about this plan because a friend gave me a copy of the application.

"I submitted a petition objecting and have now received a letter informing me of the result. I was not consulted directly.

"No one can prove these masts are safe or not, but there are health concerns.

"Some of our parents may not want to bring their children here now because of this decision. I am really angry. Masts should just not be sited here."

Her views were echoed by York Green Party, which has called on the council to reject all new mast plans, on council land, within 500 metres of residential areas, workplaces and schools - until more research into possible health effects have been completed.

But a City of York Council spokesman said: "This application was passed because there were no grounds to refuse it. We can only refuse an application on the grounds of siting or design, not on health or safety fears.

"In this case the equipment met international specifications so, in effect, our hands were tied. We felt we did consult people, on a tight schedule, and the nearby nursery was mentioned in that process."

A BT Cellnet spokeswoman added: "The only reason we would site a mast in this area is because there is a hole in our coverage.

"We are trying to fill those gaps and offer the best quality of service for our customers."

Meanwhile, a plan submitted by Orange to build a mast at the Severus Water Tower, in Sowerby Road, York, was withdrawn at a council meeting on Tuesday night after officers objected over its design.

Councillors were this afternoon meeting to discuss another mast plan in Heslington Lane.

Updated: 11:47 Thursday, September 13, 2001