A PROPOSAL to house five phone masts in the Campanile in Kew Gardens, stamping out the need for 15 separate transmitters, has received overwhelming support from residents.

In a consultation organised by local councillors, over 1,300 Kew residents voted by over four to one in favour of the plans. The proposal is still subject to a proper planning process.

The survey was one of the largest of local opinion ever undertaken in London; 1,103 (80 per cent) voted for, 259 (18.8 per cent) voted against and 17 (1.2 per cent) were neutral.

Kew councillor and leader of the borough Lib Dems, Cllr Serge Lourie, said: "As the person who chaired the public meeting I was extremely impressed by the arguments for and against the proposal.

"However, I do think that the evidence from Dr Mike Clark, senior research scientist from the National Radiological Protection Board in Oxford, was extremely telling.

"He is experienced in many aspects of mobile phone and mast safety research and considered that the Campanile was a good location for Kew's mobile phone masts."

Kew councillor Robin Jowit, said: "This is a very significant vote by local people. It is now for Kew Gardens to decide whether to give the phone companies consent to apply for planning permission to use the Campanile and the council, as planning authority, will have to go through the proper procedures and consultation to judge the application."

The head of corporate communications and PR at Kew Gardens, Sue Runyard, said: "Now we are able to make our decision. In the next few days we will look at the results in detail, together with all the advice and correspondence we have received in recent weeks."

The result will be announced next week.

"We will announce our decision during the week starting March 8."