Campaigners fear the masts could cause long-term health effects, following claims of cancer clusters around masts in other parts of the country, despite Government assurances that they are safe.

Last night there were calls for councils to stop putting up masts at sensitive locations until further studies conclusively proved there were no dangers.

Using the Freedom of Information Act, the Yorkshire Post has discovered that at least 131 mobile phone masts are located on council properties across the region, netting councils £997,942 in rent last year.

In Leeds, the city council made £410,000 in rent from 39 masts, including blocks of flats such as Queenswood Heights in Headingley and Gledhow Towers in Potternewton, while Hull City Council earned £259,044.

York City Council is among the authorities which make money from putting masts on schools – there are two at Huntington School and one at Milthorpe School, while it also benefits from a mast at Edmund Wilson Swimming Pool.

The Government says there is no evidence of health risks from mobile phones and masts and all masts have to conform to safety standards. However, in the Midlands, hundreds of residents in Stoke-on-Trent are campaigning for a mast on top of a block of flats to be taken down amid concern it could be responsible for numerous health problems, including deaths, since it was approved in 1993.

A spokesman for the anti-mast campaign group Mast Sanity – which fears long-term health effects from the mast – said: "I think it's entirely irresponsible of a council or Government office in this day and age to put something like that on their land."

Leeds North West MP Greg Mulholland said: "I think the idea that we should let mobile phone masts be put up around the place because there's no proven threat to health is really a topsy-turvy way of looking at things.

"I believe more work must be done and until it's proven there are no health risks we should avoid them being near schools, hospitals and homes.

"The mobile phone companies have had it their own way for far too long. While we all accept mobile communication is important I think we need to give communities a better say in planning them – people will have more confidence this is not just a money-making device."

Skipton and Ripon MP David Curry, who introduced a Bill in 2006 to give more planning controls over mast locations, said: "Everybody wants perfect reception but they don't want the mast that delivers it. I think the common-sense approach is to look for a site that does not lead to offence and doesn't raise sensitivities. If that can be done without going to places like schools, that's fine."

A City of York Council spokeswoman said when requests had come forward in the past they had approached the governing body of the school in question and asked for their views.

"The application only goes forward with their approval. Any income from the siting of the mast goes to the school in question," she said.

Leeds City Council also said residents were approached if mobile phone company wanted to put a mast on a council tower block. The income from the mast is used to manage and maintain the blocks.

"If they object, the company will have to seek an alternative site," the spokesman said.

"This is just one stage of the consultation – should the residents be happy with the proposals then local councillors are asked for their comments and, finally, the plans are submitted for planning permission, which is governed by strict planning rules relating to the design and location of the mast."

A spokesman for the Mobile Operators Association said: "More than 30 authoritative expert scientific reviews undertaken both in the UK and around the world, including by the World Health Organisation, during the past seven years have not found adverse health effects for adults or children caused by mobile phone base stations operating within the international health and safety guidelines used in the United Kingdom.

"Local authority sites increase the number of possible locations available to operators and makes it easier to find suitable sites. Local authorities can then use the money for public services, hospitals or old people's homes or maintaining housing blocks."


Yorkshire breakdown by local authority:
Income stated is per annum

Barnsley
Companies paying mast rental:
Vodafone - £4,000
Orange - £6,000
T Mobile - £6,500
Total income: £16,500

Mast locations:

Roebuck Hill Recreation Ground, Platts Common - Vodafone

Wombwell High School, Roebuck Street - Orange

Albion House, Union Street - T Mobile

Bradford
Companies paying mast rental:
T Mobile
Orange
Vodafone
Total income: £45,958.50

Mast locations:

Eccleshill Pool, Harrogate Road, - T Mobile

Towngate Wyke - Orange

Central Library, Princes's Way - Vodafone

Central Library, Prince's Way - T Mobile

Leaventhorpe Middle School, Chelwood Drive - Orange

Land at Cliffe Lane, Baildon - Orange

Calderdale
None


Craven
None


Doncaster
Companies paying mast rental:
Orange
BT
Vodafone
T Mobile
Transcom UK
O2
West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive
Total income: £72,871.75

Mast locations:

Rossington High School - Orange £5,000

Mexborough High School - Orange £1,738

Mexborough nurseries - T Mobile (formerly One2One) £3,500

Council House - BT/ Vodafone/ T Mobile/ Transcom UK/ O2/ WYPTE (total: £49,383.75)

Bentley ITEC - Orange £3,500

Racecourse - Orange £8,000

East Riding
None


Hambleton
None


Harrogate
Companies paying mast rental:
O2 - £4,500
T Mobile (formerly One2One) - £3,945
Total income: £8,445

Mast locations:

Rudfarlington Farm, Wetherby Road - O2

Land at Claro Road, Harrogate - One2One

Hull
Companies paying mast rental:
Hutchison 3G
Vodafone
Orange
O2
T Mobile
Humberside Police Authority
Cable and Wireless
Total income: £259,044.20

Mast locations:

Barham Road, Ross Cleveland House - Hutchison 3G

Bayswater Court 1 - O2

Bayswater Court 1 - T Mobile

Bayswater Court 1 - Hutchison 3G

Denaby Court 1 - Orange

Denaby Court 1 - T Mobile

Gatwick House 1 - T Mobile

Gatwick House 1 - Vodafone

Gatwick House 1 - Hutchison 3G

George Street multi-storey car park - Hutchison 3G

Gorthorpe Flats - Hutchison 3G

Great Thornton Street - T Mobile

Great Thornton Street - Humberside Police Authority

Highcourt - Orange

Homethorpe - Vodafone

King Street - Orange

Lindsey Place - T Mobile

Milldane - Humberside Police Authority

Milldane - T Mobile

Millport Drive - Hutchison 3G

Muswell Court 1 - Orange

Muswell Court 1 - Vodafone

Osborne Street multi-storey car park - Hutchison 3G

Padstow House 1 - Orange

Padstow House 1 - O2

Pryme Street multi-storey - Vodafone

Pryme Street multi-storey - Hutchison 3G

Torpoint Drive - Orange

Valiant Drive - T Mobile

Valiant Drive - Orange

Woolwich Drive - T Mobile

Gorthorpe Flats - Vodafone

Kingston House - Cable and Wireless

Kingston House - Orange

Kingston House - T Mobile

Kirklees
Companies paying mast rental:
Orange - £25,216
O2 - £27,238
BT - £3,750
Vodafone - £19,496
Arqiva - £8,950
T Mobile - £6,500
Total income: £91,150

Mast locations:

Almondbury High School and Language College, Fernside Avenue - Orange, £6,657

Almondbury High School and Language College, Fernside Avenue - O2, £6,750

Batley Business and Enterprise College, Batley Field Hill - British Telecoms, £3,750

Batley Business and Enterprise College, Batley Field Hill - Vodafone, £8,250

Batley Business and Enterprise College, Batley Field Hill - O2, £8,750

Colne Valley High School, Gillroyd Lane, Linthwaite - Vodafone, £6,750

Rawthorpe High School, Nether Hall Avenue - Orange, £6,300

Crow Lane Junior, Infants and Nursery School, Crow Lane, Milnsbridge - Arqiva, £1,950

Buxton House, Albion Street, Huddersfield - O2, £6,500

The Deighton Centre, Deighton Road - T Mobile, £6500

Land at Fell Greave Wood, Bradford Road, Bradley - Orange, £6,000

Land at Bradley Wood, Bradley - Vodafone, £4496

Land at Bradley Wood, Bradley - O2, £5238

Land at Hart Street, Newsome, Huddersfield - Arqiva, £7000

Land Adjoining 141 Leeds Road, Birstall - Orange, £2259

Land Adjoining National Grid Pylon, Huddersfield Road, Fixby - Orange, £4000

Leeds
Companies paying mast rental:

Orange - £140,000

Vodafone - £114,000

T-Mobile - £68,000

O2 - £42,500

Hutchison - £32,000

Crown Castle - £9,000

Arquiva - £4,500

Total income: - £410,000

Mast location and property use:

Marlborough Towers, Little London - residential

Grayson Heights, Eden Mount, Kirkstall - residential

Queenswood Heights, Queenswood Drive, Headingley - residential

Clayton Court, Clayton Road, Stourton - residential

Lovell Park Towers, Lovell Park Road, Little London - residential

Potternewton Playing Fields, Potternewton Lane, Chapel Allerton - residential

Potternewton Heights, Potternewton Lane, Potternewton - residential

Gledhow Towers, Gledhow Lane, Potternewton - residential

Lidgett Towers, Lidgett Lane, Potternewton - residential

Shakespeare Towers, Shakespeare Approach Burmantofts - residential

Gipton Gate West, Gipton - residential

Gipton Gate East, Gipton - residential

Middleton Road, Middleton - residential

South Point, South Accommodation Rd, Hunslet - offices

Meynell Heights, Meynell Approach, Holbeck - residential

Cottingley Towers, Cottingley Drive, Cottingley - residential

Holbeck Towers, Holbeck Lane, Holbeck - residential

Gaitskell Grange - residential

Whincover Grange, Whincover Drive, Wortley - residential

Burnsall Grange, Theaker Lane, Moor Top - residential

Burnsall Gardens, Theaker Lane, Moor Top - residential

Beecroft Hill, Broad Lane, Bramley - residential

The Heights East, Heights Way, Armley - residential

The Heights West, Heights Way, Armley - residential

Poplar Mount, Poplar Way, Stanningley - residential

Barncroft Grange, Barncroft Drive, Seacroft - residential

Barncroft Court, Barncroft Drive, Seacroft - residential

Barncroft Heights, Barncroft Drive, Seacroft - residential

Barncroft Towers, Barncroft Drive, Seacroft - residential

Elmete Towers, Elmete Drive, Oakwood - residential

Parkway Towers, Parkway, Gildersome - residential

Parkway Grange, Parkway, Gildersome - residential

Queensview, Queenswood Drive, Headingley - residential

Sherburn Court, Sherburn Approach, Swarcliffe - residential

Seacroft Gate, Brooklands Avenue, Seacroft - residential

Lakeland Court, Lakeland Drive, Alwoodley - residential

Norman Towers, Kirkstall - residential

Leafield Towers, Leafield Grange, Moortown - residential

Clayton Court, Clayton Road, Stourton - residential

North Yorkshire
Rental paid per district:
Scarborough - £4500 pa
Minskip - £4336 pa
East Ayton - £4336 pa
Total income: £13,172


Rotherham
Companies paying mast rental:
Vodafone - £11,000
Orange - £9500
T Mobile (formerly One2One) - £6,250
Total income: £26,750

Mast locations:

Maltby Sports Centre, off Braithwell Road, Maltby - Vodafone £5000

Beeversleigh, Clifton Lane - Orange £7000

Oaks Lane Depot, Kimberworth Park - T Mobile (formerly One2One) £6250

Oaks Lane Depot, Kimberworth Park - Vodafone £6000

Land off Haugh Road, Rawmarsh(former baths site) - Orange (formerly Hutchinson Microtel) £2500

Rydedale
Ryedale District Council Depot, Showfield Lane, Malton - National Grid Wireless, formerly known as Crown Castle UK Ltd
Total income: £3,838.64


Scarborough
None


Sheffield
No response


Wakefield
Companies paying mast rental:
Orange - £6,723
Vodafone - £2,274
T Mobile - £4,000
Total income: £12,997

Mast locations:

Hemsworth High School, Station Road, Hemsworth - Orange

Minsthorpe Community College, Minsthorpe Lane, South Kirkby - Vodafone

Lodge Hill Farm, Wakefield Road, Ossett - T Mobile

York
Companies paying rental for masts:
Orange
T Mobile
Vodafone
Total income: £33,217

Mast locations:

Edmund Wilson Swimming Pool - Orange

Huntington School - Orange

Huntington School - T-mobile

Millthorpe School - Vodafone

Museum Street council offices - Vodafone

Parliament Street (within traffic light) - Orange