Vodafone has proposed building the mast on the corner of Sapcote and Grange Drive near to Sherard School, but shopkeepers and people who live nearby are concerned about the health risk.
Councillor Frank Moore-Coltman said: "There is a lot of oppos
ition to the idea around here. People are worried about the links with cancer, particularly with it being in a residential area and close to a school. But the Government has said we should ignore that."
Both shops on the street were approached by the communications giant with offers of money for the right to build a mast.
Jitandra and Illa Patel, who run Supamac, are strongly opposed to the move.
Mrs Patel said: "We don't want the mast here because it's a residential area and near to a school. It has not been proved to be safe or healthy for the environment. A lot of people have said to us they are against it."
And Parmjit Singh, who runs neighbouring Bargain Booze with his brother, also turned down the opportunity to host the mast.
He said: "We have spoken to a solicitor to see what we can do. There are lots of fields around here, why not put it there?"
But Vodafone says independent research proves there are no dangers.
Dr Rob Matthews, electromagnetic field advisory unit manager, said: "All of our base stations are designed, built and operated in accordance with stringent international guidelines laid down by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection. The adoption of these guidelines has the formal backing of independent bodies such as the World Health Organisation.
"Typical public exposures from our base stations will be many hundreds, if not thousands, of times below these guidelines."
He added that an independent expert group recently concluded 'it is immaterial where masts are located with respect to schools, playgrounds, health centres or other places where children gather'.
Vodafone said it needed the mast to improve 3G coverage in the area allowing for better internet connections on mobile phones.
It picked the location because the wooden telegraph pole would blend into the general street scene.
