Protesters set to turn up in force at mast meeting

The mast installed close to the school and homes in London Road has brought health fears from parents of children at the school and people who live nearby.

A representative from Sussex Police was expected to attend to explain why the booster mast is essential to its policing work, by overcoming a gap in its mobile phone coverage in parts of the town, especially on the seafront.

And Ann Casson, communications manager for Airwave which has installed the controversial mast is expected to tell the audience: "Basically this is a small piece of equipment providing coverage to a very specific area of the seafront.

"In terms of health there is no credible evidence that it is responsible for health problems.

"There are very strict guidelines governing this type of technology '“ this mast not only meets them but it exceeds it by many, many times," said Mrs Casson who was expected to talk to people, answer their questions and allay their concerns.

But one resident who claims to have suffered health problems from Tetra masts is adamant of the perceived health risks of them.

Sandi Lawrence, who claims to be electrohypersensitive (EHS), told the Observer that people have already been affected by the mast which was installed over the summer months.

"Ongoing research on the biological aspects, which begun decades ago, clearly shows that there are harmful effects to humans and animal life," claimed Mrs Lawrence.

"Tetra is not like mobile phone masts. The lines of emissions go out as the crow flies from each mast to join up with other Tetra masts. If these emissions happen to pass through your home or workplace you can become ill or experience pain and unpleasant symptoms if you are EHS."

Among the symptoms most associated with Tetra, she claims, are nose bleeds, bad headaches and migraine, disturbed sleep including insomnia and nightmares or flu or virus-type symptons.

Other signs include pain in the joints including cramp, depression, eye, ear or throat problems and unexplained fevers.

"My advice to all parents in Bognor Regis is to monitor your children for any of the known and documented symptoms of pulsed microwave radiation."

Paul Wells, a town and district councillor, will be one of a number of Liberal Democrat councillors expected to attend to find out more about the mast.

Among them also is the deputy mayor of Bognor Regis Robert Gillibrand who admitted this week that he had not voted against the mast when it came before Bognor Regis Town Council planning committee.

"I am attending as a ward councillor to support any concerns that people have," he said this week.

"I don't jump on the bandwagon every time a mast proposal comes up."