PEOPLE in Spennymoor have objected to a request to scrap monitoring of emissions from a mobile telephone mast.

Permission for the 22.5m mast at Green Lane, Spennymoor, was granted last August.

But councillors imposed a condition that a survey was carried out every six months to confirm it is operating within guidelines.

Mast operator Crown Castle says new Government advice means the condition is no longer necessary.

Planning officers at Sedgefield Borough Council agree, saying the debate over heath issues has moved on considerably.

At a development control committee meeting yesterday, Steve Barker said: "The ministry states quite clearly that if the proposed development meets the guidelines, local planning authorities should take that at face value and not investigate health related matters in any further detail."

But James Burtenshaw, from Green Lane Residents' Association, presented a petition protesting against the lifting of the planning condition.

He said: "We the residents are strongly opposed to this condition being lifted.

"Crown Castle chose to erect this mast close to our residential properties, we didn't ask them to put it there. They are therefore accountable to the residents for their actions and it is essential the residents are kept informed of the electro-magnetic levels."

Councillor Martyn Locklin and Councillor Agnes Armstrong backed the residents.

Coun Locklin said: "When we granted permission for this structure it was on the condition that somebody from an independent source would give us assurances that it was not microwaving people as they walked by"

He said there was no information on emissions from the mast, so councillors decided to defer a decision until more details were made available.