PROPOSALS to erect two mobile phone masts in The Bourne have come under fierce attack by local councillors who say nearby parents are worried about the effect they will have on their children.

BT Cellnet has applied for the "slim-line" masts to be situated at the junctions of Firgrove Hill/Old Farnham Lane, and Frensham Road/Lodge Hill, which lies only 150 yards from the Bourne School.

The masts are below 15 metres tall, which means that the decision as to whether they will be approved planning permission will not lie with a council committee, but Waverley planning officers.

Borough councillor for South Farnham David Munro recently contacted Waverley's planning chief, Steve Thwaites, asking him to allow the applications, that have "already generated public interest", to be decided "in a democratic forum by elected members".

He said: "As a potential member of the planning committee, I can't of course comment at this stage on the merits of the case.

"But local residents have contacted me expressing concerns - particularly the Bourne School, which is only some 150 yards away from one of the masts.

"The issue needs to be properly debated in public by democratically-elected councillors."

Town councillor Victor Scrivens shares Mr Munro's beliefs that the decision should be achieved democratically.

"I feel very strongly that we need to go through the proper planning processes with these masts," he said.

"I think we should be very cautious - to put it mildly - of where they are sited.

"Our view is that applicants should be looking to site masts on other masts.

"There is no excuse for having separate masts for all these companies. They should be allowed to go piggyback."

Mr Scrivens also expressed worries about whether the health criteria to which companies like BT-Cellnet must adhere are stringent enough, and if the regulatory bodies that ensure such guidelines are followed are doing a good enough job.

"That's one of the reasons why this should go into the normal planning procedures, so people can question directly, as opposed to officers just ticking boxes."

Waverley's senior planning assistant, Paul Hardwick, believes that the officers' three-week consultation period with councillors and local residents, which finishes at the end of this month, will addresses all the points of objection.

He said: "The council will consider siting and appearance, and assess visual impact and the like."

Mr Hardwick, who says that a final decision on the masts will be made in June, understands that health is a key factor in any opposition to the siting of mobile phone masts in residential areas.

Mr Scrivens is sure that the Bourne residents can win the case against BT Cellnet if they are allowed to be properly and democratically represented.

"There has been a number of occasions in Farnham where these masts have been rejected simply because local residents have got their hands on the information at an early stage," he said.