THE voice of the people has halted plans to install a telephone mast in Brandlesholme.

BT Cellnet's proposal to erect a 15-metre tower behind homes in Birks Drive was thrown out after councillors sided with residents and rejected the scheme.

Residents living near the proposed site off Garside Hey Road were concerned over the health and safety implications posed by the towers. They put their worries to their Bury North MP David Chaytor. He said he was "delighted" with the planning committee's refusal. This is the second time people power has stopped a mast from being erected in Brandlesholme. Only months earlier they stopped a similar scheme in the grounds of Woodbank Cricket Club.

Mr Chaytor said hundreds of Brandlesholme residents contacted him to express their fears. He added that tougher planning laws were needed for mobile phone masts, following the inconclusive findings of the recent Stewart Inquiry. The MP also called for more research into the effects of radiation.

"It is quite clear that the experts are still a long way from giving mobile phones and masts a clean bill of health," said Mr Chaytor.

"In the meantime, we must proceed with great caution. I fully support the report's recommendations that masts should be subject to tougher planning laws and that local communities should be more widely consulted on their siting."

Plans for a 11.5 metre high mast with a dish antenna in the grounds of Brandlesholme House, near to Killelea House old people's home on Brandlesholme Road, were rejected at the same meeting.

Councillors said the siting of a mast could affect the future use of Killelea House.