STROUD prospective Tory Parliamentary candidate Neil Carmichael has responded to remarks by Sir William Stewart, chairman of the Health Protection Agency, that young children should be limited in the use of mobile telephones by raising the need to be also especially careful in locating masts anywhere near a school.

He said: "In essence, local people must be allowed to influence local planning decisions. The government's policy on this - to effectively circumvent ordinary planning procedures - must be reversed. Sir William also believes that planning policy should be revisited.

"I certainly hope that Sir William's concerns for young children using mobile telephones are not ignored and that the planning system for mast location is overhauled."