MALMESBURY Town Council has added its opposition to the 50ft monopole planned for Malmesbury Telephone Exchange on the A429.

In a packed council chamber on Tuesday night, councillors expressed their concerns about the plans submitted by mobile phone giant Hutchison 3G.

Mayor John Bowen expressed concerns about the radiation emitted from the masts.

"There are serious health implications to these phone masts," he said.

"The site's close proximity to Burton Hill House School is of particular concern. It is something that will have to be investigated further."

Fears were raised that once one phone mast had been put up it will be then used to house more communication devices.

The council also expressed concerns that the relatively small coverage that a phone mast provides would lead to their proliferation in the area.

The plans submitted by the mobile phone firm have been revised from ones previously objected to.

A steel monopole has been replaced with a slender timber pole using less equipment and landscaping to make the installation less obtrusive.