A PUBLIC meeting will be held to discuss a controversial plan by a Padiham church to site a mobile phone antennae in its tower.

The vicar of St Leonard's Church, Canon Jim Duxbury, had hoped to leave the legacy of an income from Orange to his congregation before he retired.

But opposition to the plan is mounting and now petitions are being circulated in the town and Councillor Granville Lord has arranged for a public meeting at Padiham town hall next Tuesday 30 at 7.30pm.

He has accused the church of putting "health before wealth" and is now, together with an action group of concerned residents in Padiham, gathering information on the possible health risks.

The development control sub-committee deferred the planning application for further consultation and to find out whether there were bats in the tower.

Coun Lord said: "There are no bats resident in the tower and we are aware that there are no planning grounds for this to be refused. We are hoping that when the church realises how strong the people's views are against this application, it will be withdrawn."

The action group has obtained research from the Medical College of Wisconsin into electromagnetic fields and human health which they are hoping to use to strengthen their case.

Coun Lord said a representative from the church had been asked to attend the meeting so a full discussion could be held into the plans.