Airwave hoped to have 120 masts erected by the end of November

At a meeting on Wednesday evening, East Hampshire District Council rejected proposals from MMO2 Airwave to erect masts without planning permission.

Airwave had claimed that as they have strict deadlines to erect the masts on behalf of the police, they were justified in putting them up first and then applying for planning permission afterwards.

The whole system in Hampshire was to be tested early next month but it could now be delayed for over a year.

Independent study

Tetra is hoped to replace existing analogue radio systems by 2005

Regulations about mobile phone masts do not apply to the Tetra equipment and some experts have raised concerns about the health effects.

Tetra masts pulse at 17.6Hz, which is very close to the 16Hz frequency the government's independent expert group on mobile phones warns might affect brain activity.

Some studies have suggested radio waves around this frequency could cause calcium to leak from the brain, triggering damage to the nervous and immune systems.

Around 120 masts will be needed for the system in Hampshire, and Airwave were aiming to have them all installed by the end of November.

A Home Office spokesman said they had carried out a comprehensive research programme into the health and safety aspects of Airwave, and that there were no discernable health risks associated with Tetra masts.