CAMPAIGNERS against the siting of a mobile telephone mast will be rejoicing after news Redditch Council has fended off plans for a telecommunications pole near two schools.

Last May, 3G submitted plans to install an 11m mast in Windmill Drive, Headless Cross, between the junction with Feckenham Road and Morton Lane underpass.

But the company's plans hit a roadblock when neighbouring residents and parents from Walkwood Middle and Vaynor First schools objected en masse, fearing potential health effects.

The mast, which would have been on a grass verge beside the road, would have been about 100m from school playing fields.

As a result, the council objected to the plans on the grounds it had not consulted with the schools and that the mast was visually intrusive.

The council has now heard 3G has lost its appeal against the objection.

Though the planning inspector who judged the appeal had sympathy with people's health concerns, it was the visual appearance of the mass that swayed the argument.

The findings also said 3G had not investigated other sites such as nearby Morton Stanley Park sufficiently.