A SCHOOL, blocks of flats and office buildings are all being rented out for mobile phone masts by Cambridgeshire councils, the Newscan reveal.

Payments totalling more than £90,000 a year are being paid by phone companies to erect masts on council-owned buildings.

Among the sites being used is Priory Junior School, in St Neots, which has had a mast owned by mobile phone firm Orange in its grounds since 1995.

A spokesman for the county council, which receives £4,000-a-year in rent, said the mast had "slipped through" before a clear policy had been adopted on the issue.

The council has since ruled that it will not accept masts in school grounds, partly as a result of concerns about possible health implications of mast emissions, and is looking for an alternative site.

The spokesman said:

"This mast slipped through 11 years ago.

Since then we have adopted a policy which does not allow mobile phone masts on school buildings.

"That policy took into account health concerns because, although research has shown no link between phone masts and ill health, it was felt it would be better to err on the side of caution.

"We also did not want third party contractors on county council property, so we are negotiating with the company to find an alternative site for the mast."

In Cambridge, the city council rakes in just over £87,000 a year from phone companies, and masts have been installed on a number of city centre sites.

Among the buildings with masts is the council's HQ, the Guildhall, which has two bringing in more than £18,000, and residential blocks the Kingsway flats, in Arbury, and Hanover Court, in George IV Street, in Trumpington, which have four masts between them, making more than £37,000.

Other locations include Park Street car park, Mercer's Row industrial estate and Mandela House, in Regent Street.

Desmond Hirsch, chief estates surveyor at the city council, said contracts signed by phone companies set out strict regulations to ensure the masts were safe.

He said they were tested on installation and after five years to ensure radiation emissions did not exceed recommended levels, and exclusion zones were set up around the masts.

Consultations are carried out within the council before masts are given the green-light, but Mr Hirsch could not confirm if residents in blocks such as the Kingsway flats had any say.

He added: "There are no masts on our buildings that pose a danger.

They have all been checked in terms of the emissions, which are well below what one needs to be concerned about."

■ Council buildings which feature mobile phone masts, and how much the authority receives in rent.

CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL
* £87,250

■ Guildhall, Market Square (Office) (£9,250 from Vodafone and £9,500 from Hutchison)

■ Kingsway House, Carlton Way (Residential) (£9,000 from O2 and £9,000 from Orange) ■ Hanover Court, George IV Street (Residential) (£9,750 from Orange and £9,500 from Hutchison 3G)

■ Park Street Car Park (£9,500 from T-Mobile and £9,500 from Hutchison 3G)

■ Mercer's Row (Ind Estate) (£5,250 from O2)

■ Mandela House, Regent Street (Office) (£2,500 from Orange)

■ Sidney Street and Drummer Street, CCTV poles (£4,500 from O2) CAMBRIDGESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL - £4,000

■ Priory Junior School, St Neots (Orange)