THE number of mobile phone transmitters in Plymouth could hit the 200 mark by the end of the year, The Herald has learned.

Phone companies say they are being forced to add to their masts to keep up with the ever-increasing usage of mobiles, as well as a growing demand for new services such as mobile internet and 3G technology.

But some phone mast campaigners in the city are sceptical of the plans, which include rough proposals for more than a dozen sites across Plymouth.

There are already 26 transmitters – known as 'base stations' – in the city centre alone, most operating from separate masts.

Elsewhere in the city, ten can be found in Plympton, eight in Estover and seven in Mutley and Greenbank.

O2 currently operates from the most masts in the city – 42 – although Vodafone would surpass that by transmitting from 50 if their recent roll-out proposals are all passed.

The majority of masts in Plymouth are located on industrial estates and sites such as water treatment works. All six phone companies with a presence in the city have base stations on land at Hardwick Farm, in Plympton, for instance.

However, dozens of city businesses have entered contracts with mobile phone companies, allowing the operators to place a mast on their property – typically on the roof.

In return, they receive an annual fee. This is usually around £4,000 in Plymouth, although payments can vary dramatically, hitting £30,000 a year in central London.

Many of the companies to take up contracts in Plymouth are city centre chains such as Superdrug, McDonald's and Ladbrokes. But the contracts, which can be anything from three to 15 years long, can offer a handy extra income to smaller businesses.

Mutley Plain's YMCA charity shop, the Friary Vaults pub in Mount Gould and Peverell Electrics in Trelawney Lane are just three examples of those housing transmitters.

Meanwhile, five operators have base stations at City College Plymouth's Goschen Centre, in Keyham.

As The Herald has previously reported, there are also controversial phone masts at Southway Community College and Sir John Hunt Community College, in Whitleigh.

Mobile phone companies have planning rights to erect masts up to 15 metres high, but must apply to the local council for approval for its exact siting and appearance.

If the siting and appearance of the mast is considered harmful, the council can refuse the application, while members of the public have a period of 21 days to voice any concerns.

Phone mast campaigner Jon Payn recently led a successful protest against a proposed O2 mast at the junction of Kensington Road and Queen's Road, Lipson.

The West Hill Stores owner joined forces with Cllr Andy Kerswell and more than 50 residents on New Year's Day, and is now thrilled to find out the mast has been turned down on 'visual impact' grounds.

But Mr Payn still has concerns over the long-term health impact of such masts and plans to fight against operators' expansion plans.

"It's a big relief to know the one by me won't be going up," he said. "But I'm still not happy about the amount we have – they're cropping up everywhere and most people don't know that they're there.

"I think the health risks have still not been properly looked into. I am very concerned."

Mr Payn pointed to a 2004 German study, which found a trebling in cancer cases for people living within 400 metres of a mast – a so-called 'cancer cluster'.

Although the report was never printed in a journal, or endorsed by other academics, investigations into cancer clusters have also been carried out in Northern Ireland and Buckinghamshire.

But the Mobile Operators Association (MOA) told The Herald people should be "very reassured" by the findings of recent studies.

They said that, in more than 30 reviews by scientists around the world since 2000, no adverse health effects had been found, while audits are regularly carried out on base station sites by regulator Ofcom.

Plymouth City Council said it has a strict policy on any proposed masts meeting health guidelines.

"Health issues relating to the public perception of danger may be a consideration in certain cases," a council spokesman said. "Any application for a mobile phone mast has to include a statement saying that it meets international guidelines on the emissions from mast antennas."

The city's biggest mobile phone operator, O2, also insists there are no dangers to people living near masts.

Jim Stevenson, regional communications manager, said the company "fully understand people's concern" about their base stations, and would always listen to worried residents.

"But we stand on all of the scientific studies that have been completed to date," he added.

"The fact is that none of these have come up with any evidence that there are health and safety concerns from base stations or mobile phones."

But that may be little consolation to residents near streets such as Trelawney Place, in St Budeaux, where T-Mobile – who have recently joined forces with 3 in a bid to share masts and cut down the number of total sites – have plans to construct a mast.

With 193 base stations already in operation or approved by planners in the city, operators continue to insist they need more masts to meet customers' demands.

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