New mobile phone masts are already banned on council land

A recent survey showed 15 schools in Kent had radio masts on their premises.

Kent County Council brought banned new masts on its land two years ago - but opposition Labour members have now called for the existing ones to be removed too.

Councillor Mike Eddy, leader of the Labour group on Kent County Council, said it was important to protect pupils' safety.

Very cautious

He said the council must do more to encourage the governing bodies of schools not to renew existing contracts with telecommunications companies.

But Conservative councillor Paul Carter, cabinet member for education standards and pupil services, said the council had already taken a "very cautious" approach when it banned new masts in 2001.

He said: "As soon as that directive went out, no new radio masts have been erected on school properties.

"We have 15 schools that have existing radio masts and when those contracts expire, they will not be renewed."

But he admitted governing bodies still had the power to renew the contracts - which bring extra financial resources to the school - in spite of the council's guidelines.