by MATTHEW NIXSON

and ISABEL COE

Councillors will vote to endorse a ban on controversial mobile phone transmitters from council-owned buildings and land.

The proposal ,, already in place ,, follows the publication of the recent Stewart Report into mobile phone technology.

Councillor Allan Turner, Barnet Council's cabinet member for environment, described it as ambiguous on potential health threats posed by transmitters.

He said: 'I have asked that one of the recommendations should be that telecommunications towers be banned from council-owned buildings and land until such time that we receive an unambiguous report on any health risks.'

The ban, outlined at Thursday's environment policy committee, is likely to be endorsed in August. It is unclear whether it would mean the removal of transmitters already on council buildings.

Local authorities have limited powers to object to mobile phone masts, unless they are more than 15 metres tall or in conservation areas.

But this week it emerged that neighbouring Harrow Council had rejected all 12 applications for mobile phone masts it had received since May on the grounds of inappropriate siting.

John McMinn, co-chairman of Barnet Residents Action Against Mobile Telecommunications Towers, campaigning against a mast at Barnet fire station, said: 'I think Barnet could have taken a tougher stance on this.'

However, a Barnet Council spokeswoman said: 'Harrow is taking a hard line. We are being a lot more sensible at the moment and doing everything in the proper way.'