THE mother of a ten-week-old baby who has just had a heart pacemaker fitted has voiced serious concerns about plans for a new 15-metre high phone mast near her home.

Sian McLaughlin, 43, of Christchurch Road, Bradford on Avon, says her daughter Grace could be at risk from the proposed mast affecting her pacemaker.

Grace, who was delivered three weeks prematurely, was diagnosed with a serious heart condition 25 weeks into Sian’s pregnancy.

At only nine weeks old, Grace underwent open heart surgery at the Bristol Children’s Hospital to have a tiny pacemaker fitted close to her heart.

Now Sian’s “extremely concerned” about plans by Leicester-based Galliford Try to build a 49-feet tall phone mast at the BT Telephone Exchange on Masons Lane within 500 metres of where she lives.

Sian said: “I am extremely concerned. I have been in touch with the pacemaker manufacturer Medtronic who tell me there is a definite risk.

“We live on Christchurch Road, which is very close to the proposed mast site, and I anticipate that, like my older children, she will go to Christchurch Primary School.

“Medtronic have been very clear with me that a telecommunication base station and mast can interfere with a pacemaker and that we must be very careful.

“Medtronic have advised me to contact Bristol Children’s Hospital who will liaise with Medtronic on my behalf and will be able to provide evidence as to how this mast could interfere with Grace’s pacemaker and thus endanger her life.”

Sian teaches midwifery at the University of the West of England. She and her husband, Peter, who is a parachute instructor with Go Skydive in Salisbury, have two older children, Nell, 11, and Tara, 9.

The couple are concerned about the risk to Grace, who will never be able to go near the proposed phone mast for fears it could affect her pacemaker.

“Medtronic have told me that Grace must not go within three metres of the mast. She won’t even be able to walk past it.”

Sian is also concerned about the impact of the proposed mast on other people in the town who may have heart pacemakers fitted.

Local residents objecting to the mast claim it could affect the health of people living nearby and children at the Christchurch Primary School.

They say there is risk from the electro-magnetic frequencies and non-ionised radiation likely to be emitted from the mast.

“It is very worrying for parents, particularly when the proposed mast will be so close to houses and the school,” Sian said.