Only a few residents say they were notified of the plans for the mast

The residents are furious at the "underhand" way in which the plans for the mast at the junction of City Way and Onslow Road were revealed.

They claim few people were warned about the application and that they have been given an impossible deadline in which to object to the proposal.

They are also worried about possible health risks from the 15m mast.

Residential area

About 30 people waving placards and posters spelled out their anger at the T-Mobile proposal.

They have until Friday to object and are furious at the lack of consultation and say only a handful of residents were notified of the company's intentions.

Ward councillor for Medway, Teresa Murray, said early indications were that the proposal would not go ahead.

But she said she would be seeking a change in council policy so that there would be no masts on public property or public highways in Medway.

A statement from T-Mobile said it understood such proposals could cause concern, and that it had tried to address the issues "in an open and honest manner".

But it said prior to submitting the application its agents wrote to the local planning authority, ward councillors and nearby schools, and received just five letters in response.

The statement continued: "With regard to health and safety T-Mobile is confident that its base stations... do not present a health risk to any member of the public."

A decision is due to be made on 17 March.