ENFIELD Conservatives have called for tougher planning rules to restrict the location of mobile phone masts.

Cllr Peggy Ford warned planners to beware of 'bias' towards phone companies when deciding on mast location.

She said: 'It is time for the council to strengthen procedure so that the balance of favour rests with residents rather than big business.'

The call follows the release of the Stewart Report into the possible health problems, such as cancer, which have been associated with mobile phones.

The report said the 'balance of evidence' did not suggest that mobile phones posed a health risk but more research needed to be carried out.

It recommends that all councils should be given more powers over where mobile phone masts could be erected.

Last week Harrow Council threw out a batch of applications for Orange network phone masts.

That council said it would start a lobbying campaign to persuade the Government to strengthen the law.

However, in a statement yesterday Enfield Council showed no sign of following suit.

It read: 'Enfield will continue to monitor this public concern in a transparent and factual way.

'We will monitor developments to ensure that our activities take account of the latest scientific findings.

'The council is constantly monitoring government guidelines and will act if legislation changes.'

Meanwhile, residents have objected to a plan by Vodafone to put up an 18 metre-high mast in a nursery in Strayfield Road, near Crew's Hill.

If built it would be near existing homes and a planned new luxury housing development.

It will also overlook the Lavender Hill Cemetery extension and be close to St John's CE Primary School in Theobalds Park Road.

The lattice tower would be constructed in the Lavinia Nursery on land owned by the Anglo Aquarium Plant Company.

The site is on Green Belt land and on the edge of the Clay Hill Conservation area.

Under present planning law, phone masts less than 15 metres in height are considered 'permitted development', though the council can raise questions about 'location and appearance'.

For masts higher than 15 metres planning permission must be applied for.

Objections to the mast come from residents of Astley House in Strayfield Road and the Crew's HIll Residents Association.

In a letter of objection, the association says it has 'grave reservations about the effects that the microwave transmissions might have on people living close by'.

A council spokesman said a decision on the mast had not yet been made.