CAMPAIGNERS say a mobile phone masts meeting this evening should have been better publicised.

Guernsey Airtel has also been criticised for making it a ticket-only event. ‘I think it’s rather bizarre that you have to phone up and order a ticket and I wonder why that is,’ said Vale deputy Mary Lowe.

‘All public meetings are open to everyone to attend and don’t require tickets and rightly so.

‘I hope that if people do turn up on the evening they are allowed access.’

The meeting is at the Old Government House Hotel for the company to discuss its environmental strategy with islanders.

The deadline to order tickets passed at 3pm yesterday and some were left unclaimed as many people were said not to know about it.

The telecom provider has been criticised also for deliberately choosing a small venue to limit the number of places.

Airtel insisted it had gone beyond its duty to publicise the meeting and denied it was trying to keep it low profile.

Deputy Lowe said she would be attending, but was disappointed it had not been well promoted considering the strong interest in phone masts.

‘Many people I have spoken to were completely unaware of the meeting,’ she said.

‘If it had been properly publicised, the venue would have been far too small bearing in mind that 4,500 islanders signed the petition against more masts.

‘I look forward to listening to Airtel, however, and hope it will be of benefit to all those attending.’

There will be a short presentation followed by a question and answer session on a variety of topics. Executive director David Watson will be present, along with stakeholders and other representatives to talk to people face to face.

No More Masts protest group chairman Colin Fallaize said he welcomed the opportunity to have an open debate with Airtel, but added he did not expect the operator to reduce the number of applications for masts.

‘I would have thought that with the recent public outcry about the masts they would have gone further than this meeting to show the public they mean business about the environment,’ he said.

‘They should have extended it to a larger venue and certainly advertised the event properly with a page in the Guernsey Press to let people know about it.

‘I’m going there with an open mind, not a closed one, as I want to hear what they are going to say because that is the only way you can have a sensible discussion.

‘But given that there are more than 50 applications with Environment, I would think they would have to make to some fairly radical changes to move from their current position.’

An Airtel spokesman said the meeting was an honest attempt to engage the island community and added that the company was not concerned about protesters.

‘Our intention is to be as open as possible and we want to make it a positive session,’ he said.

‘As long as people are constructive, we want to have a dialogue with them. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and we will listen to them as long as they listen to us. We are trying to present Airtel’s position as it is.

‘This is the first time we have done this and we have been taking advice from our parent company, Vodafone, as they are experienced in holding these meetings.

‘The venue was chosen simply because it was available, it has the right facilities and it is in Town.’

No More Masts protest group chairman Colin Fallaize said he welcomed the opportunity to have an open debate with Airtel, but added he did not expect the operator to reduce the number of applications for masts.

‘I would have thought that with the recent public outcry about the masts they would have gone further than this meeting to show the public they mean business about the environment,’ he said.

‘They should have extended it to a larger venue and certainly advertised the event properly with a page in the Guernsey Press to let people know about it.

‘I’m going there with an open mind, not a closed one, as I want to hear what they are going to say because that is the only way you can have a sensible discussion.

‘But given that there are more than 50 applications with Environment, I would think they would have to make to some fairly radical changes to move from their current position.’

An Airtel spokesman said the meeting was an honest attempt to engage the island community and added that the company was not concerned about protesters.

‘Our intention is to be as open as possible and we want to make it a positive session,’ he said.

‘As long as people are constructive, we want to have a dialogue with them. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and we will listen to them as long as they listen to us. We are trying to present Airtel’s position as it is.

‘This is the first time we have done this and we have been taking advice from our parent company, Vodafone, as they are experienced in holding these meetings.

‘The venue was chosen simply because it was available, it has the right facilities and it is in Town.’