Environmental campaigners have slammed two mobile phone giants for turning to a diesel generator to power a north-east mast.
An electrical fault has meant that O2 and Vodafone’s mast, at Pitmedden, is relying upon the fossil fuel until the problem can be fixed.
The mast, which is operated by a firm known as Cornerstone, provides coverage to phone users in the surrounding area.
But Udny Environmental Action Group argues the generator – which has been running for around eight weeks – is polluting the area with fumes and claim its efforts to resolve the issue have been ignored.
Allan Glen, a member of the group, said: “It’s pumping diesel into the atmosphere 24 hours a day from this big tank.
“I’ve not really had much of a response from the firms other than to tell me that they are aware of it.
“I think it’s going to sit there running until someone finally realises they need to do something about it.
>> Keep up to date with the latest news with The P&J newsletter
“All they have done is pass me around different emails so far.
“It’s ironic because when you email the companies you get the message at the bottom of their email asking you to not print it off to help save the environment.”
It has been confirmed that engineers are working to fix the issue but it’s estimated it will take another nine weeks to fully resolve.
A spokeswoman for Cornerstone said: “Vodafone and O2 customers expect to be able to use their mobiles and devices where they live, work and travel.
“The electricity supply to our base station in Pitmedden has a fault and as a result we are using a generator to power this base station.
“Without the generator the base station will not work.
“We are working to minimise the amount of time we are using the generator and will switch back to the mains electricity supply as soon as possible.”
