CONTROVERSIAL plans for a 108ft radio mast near Great Malvern railway station will have to be abandoned.

The Government Office for the West Midlands has told Malvern Hills District Council and applicant Network Rail that the mast would not be allowed near the station.

The decision follows an approach by the council, seeking to protect the area.

Network Rail unveiled proposals in May for the mast to be built next to the station, in the Malvern Conservation Area and yards from Malvern Parish School. It was greeted with a barrage of criticism from neighbours, who described it as an eyesore.

Katherine Barber, chairman of the Malvern Civic Society said the original plan was "horrific" and welcomed the news the mast would not be allowed near the listed station.

"I'm very pleased they've decided it can't go there," said Mrs Barber. "It would have had the same sort of impact as the mast on North Hill which is also a blot on the landscape.

"Whether I'll be delighted with where they put it next we'll have to wait and see."

The council failed to get a blanket ban on the mast across the district and is now awaiting news of an alternative site.

MHDC planners are hoping that the company can be persuaded to move the mast, which it says is needed to improve rail safety, to the countryside.

The mast is designated as "permitted development", meaning it could be erected without normal planning permission from the council.

However, Network Rail has been in negotiations with the council over its position and informally agreed that it would look for other locations away from the station in response to council opposition.

Network Rail spokesman Simon Brooks said new proposals would be submitted to the council quite shortly but would not reveal where the sites are.

Second phone mast planned for Colwall site, see page 15