ANGRY parents claim that Trafford council have ignored legitimate fears over the health of local children.

These claims come after the councils planning committee unanimously voted in favour of granting planning permission for the telecommunications company, Orange, to install two satellite dishes on the existing mast situated on Wellacre Secondary School, Flixton.

Parents fear that their children's health could be damaged if they are subjected to persistent exposure to the microwave radiation from the phone mast. Theysay it will also potentially effect the other schools situated in close proximity, including Wellacre Junior, Delamere Special School and St Monicas.

One parent, Mrs Cath East told the council's planning committee at their meeting on Thursday that the perceived health risk has already caused much stress and anxiety to both residents and parents.

The committee agreed that they could not refuse the plans on the grounds of a 'perceived' risk to health, as the proposed development met the health and safety standards as set out in the Stewart Report and current government guidelines.

Cllr David Quayle said: "People cannot come up with conclusive evidence to say these are harmful, the scientific evidence is on the side of them not being harmful."

Members of the committee spoke also of the media hype surrounding these situations and the need for the telecommunications companies to do more to ease the fears of local people.

Protestor Bernadette Motiwala, in an email to SUM, asked: "Did anyone sign a petition to ask for masts to be put up near a primary school? No. So why are the council overriding the concerns of the people against the plans?"

Cllr Roy Seddon said: "I am not convinced that there is no danger there are so many schools in that area. I know that they say it is safe, but they said that about BSE. There is not enough evidence to say that it is safe."

Planners stressed that Wellacre School's governors, as landowners, have ultimate control over whether the development goes ahead.

The governors say that they do not wish to renew the contract for the mast and they will arrange for the removal of the equipment at the earliest possible time.