MP ANDREW Hunter joined Kempshott residents as they protested against plans to erect a 15-metre mobile phone mast in the heart of their community.

More than 30 residents, supported by local councillors, gathered by the junction of Buckingham Parade and Kempshott Lane on Wednesday where the proposed BT Cellnet mast would be sited.

Holding banners and placards, they protested against the application which would see a mast placed within 25 metres of an elderly people's housing complex, less than 200 metres from two schools and in the immediate vicinity of shops and a pub.

Simon Preedy, heading the protest campaign on behalf of his father, collected 350 signatures on the first day of starting a petition.

He said: "It would be monstrous for a 50-foot tower to be put in the heart of the Kempshott community.

It's totally inappropriate to the surroundings.

"My father lives less than 50 metres away. He has a neurological condition and is on permanent medication.

"Scientific experts generally agree that people like him are vulnerable to emissions from masts."

The battle to stop the mast has included gathering a petition of more than 700 signatures, delivering 1,000 flyers through the doors of homes in Kempshott, putting up posters and informing residents through a school newsletter.

Basingstoke MP Mr Hunter, backing the residents at the protest, said: "This is a matter of very grave concern for a lot of Kempshott residents and concern to other people who live where masts may come in the future."

He promised the residents he would try to raise the matter in Parliament.

He added: "What is wrong is that telecommunications masts are not subject to full planning procedures, which I feel they must be.

"It's quite monstrous that a mast should go up within 25 metres of a house. It's an entirely unacceptable location."

Hatch Warren borough councillor Dan Putty, who backed residents in the unsuccessful campaign against another mast on Kempshott roundabout, said: "I'm deeply distressed that my voice is not being heard and more and more of these applications are coming in. Soon we will have one on every street corner."

The proposal will be considered along with another application from the company - for a 10-metre slimline pole with integrated aerials on land north of the Winchester Road/Wallop Drive roundabout, near where another company's mast is already sited - at Basingstoke council's development control committee on July 25.

Speaking on behalf of the Kempshott community at the meeting will be resident Roger Heyworth.