PROPOSALS to replace a street lamp in Rickmansworth with a mobile phone mast are being vehemently opposed by the local community.

Anne Peat, chairman of governors at Arnett Hills School, which is 150 metres from the proposed mast, received a letter about the proposals when she returned after the Christmas break on Tuesday.

The letter outlined plans to "swap" five metre-high streetlight number 38 in Berry Lane, Rickmansworth, for an 8.7 metre telecommunications mast.

The letter, sent by Marconi, the company representing phone giant T-Mobile, had been sent at the beginning of the school holidays, and asked any comments to be received within 21 days.

Mrs Peat said: "I was disappointed that the letter had been sent out of school term-time, when it was obvious that no-one would receive it until several weeks later.

"However, when I contacted Marconi they agreed to extend the correspondence period to allow us to discuss the proposals at our governors' meeting on Wednesday, January 19."

A representative from T-Mobile said: "More than 55 million of us now use mobile phones in the UK and the simple fact is that they will not work properly without an efficient network of base stations or masts.

"T-Mobile has to constantly upgrade and extend its network to cope with the increasing numbers and demands of mobile phone customers. We do so in an open and transparent manner and are consulting extensively on this proposal in Rickmansworth."

The letter that was sent to residents in the surrounding roads, and to the school, asked that comments regarding the installation be emailed to jonathan.walton@marconi.com