ANDOVER Councillors' For-um is to have a presentation on the health and safety issues surrounding phone masts.

The move comes after concern s had been voiced about new masts sprouting up in the Andover area.

Last week two petitions containing a total of 547 signatures were handed in to Cllr Derrick Roach, the borough council's portfolio holder for environmental issues.

The problem was raised again by Cllr Rod Bailey at the forum on Monday night and picked up by Cllr Garry Rankin-Moore.

Mr Rankin-Moore said: "I have recently received documents presented to the European Parl-iament and Commission which flies in the face of what our own government is saying with regard to health risk.

"The risks are real and very serious but having sold the rights for £21 billion they are anxious to play it down."

Cllr David Drew believed that the public should be provided with as much information as possible about masts, but he was concerned about the public meeting.

"I am concerned if we do have a public meeting that emotions will run very high and that it might generate more heat than light; notwithstanding that I think it would be a good idea to have a discussion," he said.

He reminded the forum that there were already two phone masts in Andover - at the mill in Millway Road and at the fire station.

"The fact that they are there and working means we should consider, when looking at new masts, whether they are going to make a big difference," he added.

"And we should balance that with the desire to have better and more efficient communications."

Mr Paul Jackson, Test Valley's development control manager, said he would come back to the forum with a presentation on health and safety issues relating to the council's powers.

The Government has told planners in policy guidance that masts are not a health risk if certain standards are met.