RESIDENTS have lost their fight to prevent a mobile phone company erecting a mast in a suburban area.

Vodafone's re-submitted application to erect the mast at Neville's Cross, Durham, was granted planning approval by the city council.

The council rejected a previous application - to mount it on a public footpath alongside the A167 Newcastle Road, near the bridge over the main East Coast rail line - as it was considered inappropriate on the edge of a conservation area.

But the new proposal, to site the 12m-high mast on the adjacent railway embankment, camouflaging it green to match nearby tree foliage, won the day and was approved by members of the city's development control committee.

Seventy objections were lodged from local people. They included potential health implications, visual intrusion and questioning the need for the mast, given that there are two masts near the proposed site.

Allan Simpson, development control manager with the city council, said the mast would blend in with the tree-lined railway embankment.

He said: "The backdrop of trees will help to merge it into the background, and, in terms of visual amenity, it stands the test of meeting the needs of the conservation area.

"The health implications are highly emotive and raise much concern, but the Government advise that providing base stations meet international guidelines, then local authorities cannot discuss health matters.

"Although there are similar structures nearby, the company clearly feels there's a gap in network coverage, neither are capable of accommodating additional equipment.

"The conclusions are that it causes minimal harm and is acceptable in planning terms."

Neville's Cross city councillor Ron Dickie, who opposed the application, said gaps in knowledge about the effects of masts on nearby residents should justify a, precautionary approach, to such applications.

He said it would be the third such mast in a half-mile stretch of the A167 through western areas of the city.

Despite Coun Dickie's opposition the application was approved on a five-three vote.

However, Vodafone will have to meet a number of conditions before mounting the mast.