VODAFONE have submitted plans to build a radio base station next the Gospel Church in Sandiway.

Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure Limited (CTIL), on behalf of Vodafone, submitted the application on May 4.

Supporting documents in the application says the plans are part of Vodafone’s network improvement programme, which seeks to provide 4G coverage to current ‘not spot’ areas and improve poor 2G and 3G service in these areas.

A statement from CTIL said: “Northwich and the surrounding area currently has little to no indoor 3G and 4G coverage. The best service is largely ‘in car’.

“Therefore the residents, businesses and visitors to Northwich and the surrounding local areas are unable to use their 3GT and 4G headsets indoors.

“This is contrary to the purposes in which they were purchases.

“The proposed installation would provide a high quality indoor 3G/3G and 4G coverage to Northwich and the immediate surrounding area.”

A number of residents have written to Cheshire West and Chester Council to object to the plans.

Martin and Maria Cooper, from School Lane, said the mast will have a ‘catastrophic’ effect on the environment.

They said: “We are absolutely astounded that the council have let this application go this far.

“The mast will sit in the middle of a residential area and have a catastrophic effect on our local environment.

“We believe that siting masts this close to properties is illegal under European law, and that the possible health implications, whilst unproven, are still a huge cause for concern.

“We object most strongly to the siting of this mask and cannot understand why the mast has been planned to be placed in an urban environment when there is so much space elsewhere locally, and where the mast can be erected without disruption to the local community.

“We know that our neighbours are equally depressed at the prospect of an unsightly communications tower suddenly appearing on their doorstep and would expect that our combined objections will prevent this mast being built.”

Janice Twidale, of St Johns Way, sent a six-page document, complete with diagrams, to the planning authority detailing a number of objections including design, location and environmental, health and safety.

She said: “The siting of the mast in the proposed location will have a major impact on property value for which I will be pursuing compensation should the application be successful.”