ANTI-MOBILE mast campaigners are celebrating victory this week after Orange withdrew proposals for three mast sitings in Farnham. Local protesters have fought a long and bitter campaign against the mobile technology giant over its plans to site masts near the Bourne Infant School and on land near to residential areas at Abbots Ride and Manor Gardens. Orange bowed to public pressure this week when they withdrew their proposals for all three sites. In a statement released about the mast proposal near the Bourne Infant School on the Frensham Road, a spokesman confirmed Orange was now pursuing the possibility of sharing the NTL mast that is currently located at Aveley Lane in Farnham. "Orange has decided to put its proposals for a site on the Frensham Road aside based on the fact that its proposals on the NTL mast on Aveley Lane are anticipated to provide coverage for this area," he said. "Orange had investigated the Frensham Road site, initially as a substitute to the NTL site but we have now agreed to put these proposals aside and continue to pursue our interests with NTL." Niki Hearnshaw, campaign co-ordinator for the Bourne School mast action group, was overjoyed . "This is brilliant news," she said. "It is quite right that they have done this and it is good that they have seen sense. We are obviously thrilled to bits." Orange has also withdrawn its proposal for a mast at Manor Gardens. "Orange has agreed that it will not submit any planning application in connection with the Manor Gardens proposal while it establishes the viability of the alternatives under consideration," said a spokesman. Ray Cuckow, a co-ordinator for the Manor Gardens Mast Action Group, said in response. "Our group is pleased that Orange has committed not to put in for planning permission for their damaging proposals for a mast at Manor Gardens while all the alternatives are fully evaluated. "Orange has recognised the strength of public feeling against their proposals. We are grateful for the ongoing support of our councillors and of Jeremy Hunt, our MP, which has got us in this position." Orange has withdrawn its third proposal for a mast near the residential area of Abbots Ride, off the Tilford Road. It is now expecting to share a new site to be built at Victoria reservoir in the new year with fellow mobile operator, Hutchinson Three. "After a community meeting with the local residents association, Orange has agreed to postpone its proposals at Abbots Ride and Tilford Road until a new site has been built at Victoria reservoir," said a spokesman. "This Hutchinson Three-led site will be shared by Orange and the extent to which it improves coverage towards the Abbots Ride and Tilford Road and surroundings can best be determined once this site has been built." Zofia Lovell, secretary of the Abbots Ride Residents' Association, was pleased with the news but warned Orange that local residents would fight on should it relaunch proposals for a mast siting. "We don't see it as being over," she said. "Orange seems to think that coverage is patchy in our area. It isn't and I have tried out two Orange phones in our area and each had the maximum level of reception. The coverage is fine and there is no need for any more masts here." Ms Lovell's words of caution have been echoed by Jeremy Hunt, MP for South West Surrey, who said: "I am delighted that Orange has at last listened to the wishes of the residents about the positioning of proposed mobile phone masts. "It is a real success for our campaigns that Orange decided not to use either of these sites. Although it comes with caveats which is disappointing. "Mobile phone operators must now take more account of the wishes and needs of local people when siting phone masts. Surely it is a matter for the people who live there to decide whether they want better reception or not?"
