Exclusive by Justin Dunn

A VICAR has been summoned to a showdown with residents and councillors to explain why he's happy to take thousands of pounds for his church in return for siting a mobile phone mast in its tower.

Reverend Ian Smith is on the invitation list for a special community forum to discuss his plans to install a second phone mast inside Manor Church Centre in Manor Road, Wallasey.

Rev Smith admitted to the Globe three weeks ago that in addition to the Orange mast already installed, the church is also in negotiation with Vodafone over the possibility of placing another.

It is understood that the net result for the church would be an income in the region of £12,000 a year for both masts.

Local residents claim they were not consulted about the decision to install the masts - which the church denies - citing health concerns and the fact that the centre itself is used as a day nursery for young children.

They were also angry that part of the installation work for the mast was carried out on a Sunday - meaning the church was closed for business on its official day of worship while the work was completed.

Also invited to the special meeting of the East Wallasey Area Forum are representatives from mobile giants Orange, a member of action group Mast Sanity, Liscard Labour councillors Christine Jones, Dave Hawkins and Gary Leech, and local residents.

Cllr Jones told the Globe: "I believe that the case for these masts in residential areas hasn't been won if other countries have more stringent standards than ours and if we don't encourage them near schools.

"There's conflicting expert evidence on the effects of transmitters. Governments throughout Europe don't all come to the same decisions about the limits, even for exactly the same hazards. In fact they vary greatly.

"So we must free ourselves from any delusion that 'legal maximum exposure' means the same as 'safe'."

She added: "These masts invariably produce local reaction.

"The constant flow of petitions from concerned residents all over Wirral, wherever such masts are proposed, demonstrates spontaneous popular concern.

"Myself and my Liscard Labour colleagues have seen a petition with 250 signatures from local people objecting to the presence of the original mast and voicing concern over plans for a second installation.

"This meeting will be the perfect opportunity for all sides to have a say and I hope everyone concerned about this matter takes part."

q The early meeting of the East Wallasey Area Forum will take place at 7pm, on October 18, in Wallasey Town Hall.