A PETITION is due to be handed to Test Valley Borough planners by residents in Grateley, furious at plans to site a mobile phone mast near their homes.

More than 40 names have been gathered by resident Jon Cotterell, whose house in Station Road looks directly over the site.

"I realise this is a business venture for the phone company," says Jon, "but our main concerns are the unknown health risks and the impact on the environment. What I find difficult to understand is why the mast needs to be so close to our homes, when there's an area 100m away that has nothing surrounding it."

One-2-One is seeking permission to erect the mast, measuring 73ft, by Grateley station. It wants to increase its coverage in the area and already has one transmitter on Thruxton Hill. Current government advice says there is no proven health risk from masts and all future masts are expected to fall within set safety guidelines.

But Cllr Stan Angell, the chairman of Grateley Parish Council is supporting the residents' action. He said: "It's important to represent the views of the village to the borough council as best we can."

The borough council is asking for any objections to reach its offices by 30 January. The next planning meeting is scheduled for 15 February.