RESIDENTS fear a planning application for two communication masts could lead to health problems and road chaos.

Mobile phone giant Orange wants to put up masts of 18 and 30-metres at the Top o' th' Cow Water Works in Cow Lane, Middle Hulton.

But families in Westfield Road, and the nearby estate, are fighting the application as they claim phone masts are already a blot on the landscape with at least five erected in the past few years.

Mrs Pat Higson has been busy collecting signatures for a petition against the proposed masts which will be sent to Bolton South East MP Brian Iddon and Bolton Council's Planning Department.

Mrs Higson, of Westfield Road, said: "The time has come to say enough is enough and we don't want any more. I'm lucky because I don't have such a clear view of the masts, but some people have to look at them every day.There is a significant amount of opposition to the latest proposals.

"Heathfield Primary School is very close and one wonders about the health implications for children with so many masts going up and radiation a concern.

"We're also worried about the effects on traffic because Cow Lane is narrow and it would mean lots of dirt and upheaval with low-loader trucks going up and down all the time."

Mrs Higson has already collected more than 70 signatures for the petition in only days.

Howard Barritt, head of Planning Control at Bolton Council, said that only phone masts of 15-metres and above required planning permission, but all companies wanting to put up masts of any size still needed to consult the council.

Mr Barritt said: "The Government is looking at bringing in legislation which would oblige all companies to apply for planning permission, no matter what the size of the mast, and I think that would make life easier for everyone.

"The situation is not ideal at the moment with different rules for different sizes of mast.

"We may ask Orange to look at the possibility of mast sharing and just because there are already several in one area will not make a difference either way to the decision. The Cow Lane area is one of the highest spots in Bolton, which is why there are so many mast applications."

Any concerned residents are welcome to attend a meeting with Brian Iddon MP on Friday at the Dido Suite in the town hall between 4pm and 6pm

The mast application will be discussed at the council's planning meeting on December 14 and a final decision must be made by December 20.