A GROUP of campaigners facing the prospect of living next to a phone mast are calling for immediate action to end their seven-year protest.

Residents in Gurney Court Road and Sandpit Lane have been waiting years for St Albans District Council to confirm where Orange should site its mast.

They say that the council, as landowner, has made no attempt to sit down with operators and reach agreement on where masts should be based.

Richard Morgan, of Gurney Court Road, has submitted a Freedom of Information request to the council, demanding documentation on all council discussions about the possible sites.

Another resident in the area, Frank Hore, who has also been active in the campaign, said: “We are puzzled. Why has it been such a fight?

“We'd like a cabinet willing to find ways for us to enjoy the same protection as other councils in the country, but all we've had to listen to is administrative difficulties and unexplained delays.”

Councillor Brazier, portfolio holder for planning and conservation at St Albans District Council said the relevant Government guidelines state there is no reason to refuse the operators permission.

He told the Review: “I am in the process of getting together a planning policy which will stop mobile phone operators from building mast on all district council land.

“This will take into consideration Gurney Court Road, but without this, if Government guidelines say it is okay for them to build 50 metres away from residential properties, we are doing all we can.”

Roma Mills, Labour group leader at the district council, and the party's parliamentary candidate for St Albans said: “I cannot understand why the Liberal Democrat cabinet has let this matter drift on year after year.

“As long as March 2008, it promised to lobby the county council and seek support of ten other Hertfordshire district councils in getting robust telecommunications policy in place to protect residents. However, 12 months later and no action.”

Councillor Brazier said they have tried talking to the county council and other district councils. He also told that most of the information residents are demanding is in the public domain through minutes from meetings.