A FEW months ago T-Mobile applied to put up a 3G telecommunications mast in Heworth. Given that there remain unresolved public health issues, especially for children, concerning mobile telecommunication masts, and a nursery and two schools are close to this site, there were a fair few objections, and the application was duly dropped.

Then what? School broke up on Friday, July 22, and on the Monday up popped the application once again, with a deadline for objections on August 31, just as many people with children take their holidays, and making it impossible for either of the schools to lodge an objection in an official capacity.

To crown it all, it is standard practice for all objections to an original application not to be counted as objecting to the re-application, even if no changes have been made.

Whatever your views on telecommunications masts, for sheer underhand sneakiness this takes the biscuit!

Given this timing, and the fact that the posted notice (yes, just the one) on a lamp-post near the junction of Melrosegate and Tang Hall Lane is practically illegible, I call on the council to extend the deadline and on T-Mobile to consider finding an alternative site which is more than 400 metres from schools and nurseries, in line with the current code of practice. It shouldn't be too difficult!

If anyone else feels strongly about this, please write to Darren Hendley at Planning, 9 St Leonard's Place, quoting reference 05/01585/TCMAS.

Candy Spillard,

Seymour Grove,

Heworth,

York.

Updated: 11:32 Friday, August 26, 2005