Residents' joy, but it's not done and dusted

However, Philip Stokes, of Hardwicke Close, Worcester - one of the protesting residents - said although he was pleased with the decision, the matter was not "done and dusted yet."

Mr Stokes lobbied city councillors at a planning meeting last night to urge them to reject the new mast, which is designed to cope with the next generation of mobile phones.

Last Saturday the Evening News reported how Mr Stokes said the applicant, Vodafone had treated him and his neighbours with "contempt with its proposal to build a structure, which would be 9ft taller than the existing one.

The current tower, which has been on the industrial site near Hylton Road for nine years, stands 36ft high, but the new proposed mast would have been 45ft and would have consisted of a thicker pole and antennae.

Mr Stokes said several residents living in Hardwicke Close and Henwick Road had asked him to speak on their behalf.

"We believe it's intrusive to our outlook," said the 37-year-old.

"All sorts of things could be tagged on to the antennae that we don't know the size of.

Tucked away

"We believe the size of this mast is disproportionate."

Stephen Herbert, town planner from CPS Global Ltd, spoke at the meeting on behalf of Vodafone.

"It's well tucked away in an industrial estate," he said.

Peter Yates, principal planning officer said the mast needed to been upgraded to improve the capacity for the next generation of phone users.

"It's the only Vodafone installation west side of the river," he said. "Everyone that's using Vodafone relies on this."

Planning members voted against giving the new mast the go-ahead.

After the meeting Mr Stokes, an Information Technology manager at Just Systems, Malvern, said Vodafone would still be able to appeal to the Government.

"If they go into negotiations with the planning committee, the planning committee would be able to approach Vodafone with a new proposal," he said.