Phone firm threatens legal battle

Communications firm O2 said today it would go to court in an attempt to put up a mobile phone mast in Kew.

The phone company has been involved in a stand-off with families trying to stop construction of the 12-metre mast. The residents accuse O2 of underhand tactics and have so far managed to block four attempts to begin work.

The firm has temporarily backed down after the protesters staged a four-day, 24-hour vigil around the proposed site. At one point police were called when tempers flared.

O2 is waiting to hear whether it, and other mobile phone companies, can build at the residential site, 20 metres from Kew Gardens station.

O2 community relations manager Jim Stevenson said: "We've spoken to the people there, so what we'll need to do is get a court order to build on that site to allow our technology to go forward."

He said his company sought planning permission from Richmond council last May. He added that the law states if no objection is received within 56 days permission is automatically granted.

But Richmond council believes the planning application was incomplete and rejected the proposals at the end of July. A council spokesman said it was looking at all its options, adding: "We feel O2 has acted in bad faith."

Daniel Slack, 29, who runs a shop near Kew station, said: "We have won this battle but not necessarily the war."