WORRIED postal staff are fighting plans for a mobile phone mast close to their offices.

Almost 30 employees at the Royal Mail Sorting Office in Ferndown have signed a petition objecting to a plan for a 17.5m tall mast at the adjoining automated telephone exchange building on the corner of Wimborne Road East and Queens Road.

They are concerned about their health and other side effects.

One 2 One Personal Communications is making a third application to East Dorset District Council, after earlier proposals were rejected on the grounds they were visually detrimental.

Members of the council's planning committee will on Tuesday hear that in addition to the petition, a further eight letters of objection have been received.

Other concerns include the height of the mast and its visual impact in a residential area.

A report to members states the revised proposal is more finely balanced than the earlier applications.

But it adds: "It is considered that notwithstanding the assistance of the applicant in attempting to reduce the visual impact of the proposed development, the proposal remains unacceptable, particularly when viewed from other than directly in front of the mast."

Meanwhile, councillors are expected to give the thumbs up to an application by Vodafone for a 12m high mast at Manor Farm, Sixpenny Handley.