RESIDENTS concerned about health risks were overjoyed by the rejection of plans for a second mobile phone mast on the site of a car showroom.

Cliffords showroom, in The Brent, Dartford, had given One2One permission to put a 10m-high mast on its property.

Bromley Council's planning department rejected the plans on September 9 because they were considered to be “out of character with the surrounding area and detrimental to the neighbouring houses”.

Julie Rose, 35, of Fairway Drive, said: “I feel elated but I reckon Cliffords will put in another application.

“This mast would have been at the bottom of our gardens near to where our children play, so we had concerns about health and we felt powerless.”

One2One sent Mrs Rose, who has a six-year-old daughter, a video designed to allay public fears about masts.

Mrs Rose said: “It is called One2One personal communications but its people wouldn't even speak to us. I felt insulted by just being sent a video.”

Cliffords already has one mast on its property, which was arranged by previous owners the KT Group. The second mast would have been located directly at the rear of two properties on Fairway Drive and to the side of one property on Watling Street.

A One2One spokesman said: “We can look for a suitable alternative site in the area or we can appeal the decision but not for another two or three months. We are sure masts are safe and do not pose a health risk to the public.”

Councillors Austen Brooker and David Baker opposed the mast on the grounds it was hazardous to health.

Cllr Brooker said: “If you oppose it, the company will usually win an appeal. It's a problem, but most residents have mobile phones and they use the damn things.”

Hussein Ramadam, a director of Cliffords, refused to comment.