THERE were smiles on the faces of people who packed out the small hall at the Bouverie Hall last Wednesday when Pewsey Parish Council objected to plans for a controversial mobile phone mast.

More than 40 villagers crowded into the hall, some of them having to stand, for the meeting.

Feelings have been running high about the plans by service provider O2 for a mast on the Pewsey Vale FC ground behind the High Street.

Kennet District Council rejected O2's original plan for a 14 metre mast in January. O2 appealed but its appeal was dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate on grounds that the company had not sufficiently explored alternative sites in the village.

Villagers were then stunned to discover that O2 has put in a new plan for a 17 metre mast at the soccer ground.

The local opposition is based on two issues; the proximity of a mast to homes and other sports facilities where young people play and also whether the soccer club should be allowed to sublet to O2 when its landlord is the parish council.

Coun Denis Sweasey, at his last meeting before resigning from the parish council, said that no matter how much councillors and objectors worried about emissions from the mast this was not an acceptable reason within planning guidelines for turning it down.

Council chairman Alex Carder said it was not only health fears that people were concerned about.

He said: "On the other hand the height of the mast does give cause for concern. I would object on the height of the gantry and not on health issues."

Coun John Cooke said he was amazed that O2 while considering other sites in the village had ruled out the one adjacent to the scrap yard and railway line in Wilcot Road "for health and safety reasons".

He said they had shot themselves in the foot by making this statement yet were happy to put their mast near homes. "If it is not safe to go near the scrap yard then I feel we are on safe ground saying no to it at the football ground," Coun Cooke said.

The committee voted by 11 votes to one (Coun Sweasey) to object to the mast because it was excessive for the proposed location within a conservation area.

The plan will now go to Kennet.