PARLIAMENTARY Chief Whip Geoff Hoon was urged to help change the law when he visited Eastwood families locked in a battle over a phone mast.

T-Mobile put up the 72ft temporary mast in December on land at the end of two gardens in Chewton Street – without telling the residents.

It said it did not need permission as it was using "emergency powers" because the signal from an existing smaller mast was blocked by a new housing development.

But when the six-month emergency period ended the mast remained in place – and Broxtowe Borough Council then served an enforcement notice, ordering the company to remove it or submit a planning application within 28 days.

T-Mobile then appealed the enforcement notice, claiming it needed more time to act on an already approved plan to install a 56ft mast off Nottingham Road.

The whole issue has proved upsetting for residents David and Hilary Radulovic and Malcolm and Brenda Fletcher, who have had to live with the towering "monstrosity".

Mr Radulovic's brother Milan Radulovic, a councillor for Broxtowe Borough Council, invited MP Mr Hoon to see the mast and talk about the impact it has had.

"It is important that these installations are supported by the local communities. I want to see this issue resolved as quickly as possible," said Mr Hoon, who is also the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury.

Coun Radulovic urged Mr Hoon to investigate a change in the law to stop other people being affected in the same way.

"I want the emergency powers repealed on the grounds that they are not fair," he said. "They [mobile phone companies] should go through the normal planning process like anyone else. Why should it be different for a mobile phone company?

"They can stick things up all the time to suit themselves and that's wrong."

David Radulovic said he was pleased about Mr Hoon's visit and he hoped it would help speed up the removal of the mast.

"I just want it down. It's horrendous. It is a monstrosity," he said. "They never consulted anybody and just went and did it."

A spokesman for T-Mobile said: "We have tried to expedite this as quickly as possible and we are confident that by the end of September the new base station will be up and the temporary installation gone"

jon.robinson@nottinghameveningpsot.co.uk