A PLAN to place a telecommunications column, that would be nearly 40ft high, in the heart of a conservation area was unanimously rejected yesterday.

Mobile phone company O2 wanted permission to put the grey steel pole on a pavement in front of a car showroom at the roundabout junction of Malpas Road and South Parade, Northallerton.

Councillor Geoffrey Davey, speaking for Northallerton Town Council, said he and his colleagues were opposed to the application because it would have an adverse visual impact on the area.

He said it was insensitive to place such equipment in the heart of a residential area when people had a perception, whether right or wrong, that it may be detrimental to their health.

Members of Hambleton District Council's planning committee unanimously supported Coun Davey.

Councillor Peter Brown said: "This is appalling. It is opposite very very important buildings, the Station Hotel and County Hall.

"It would adversely affect the setting of the conservation area."

He suggested the company should look at another site and mentioned the nearby car park at the railway station.

Coun Brown reminded his colleagues that the proposed site is also the proposed site of another application to build a residential complex and that the presence of the equipment would not fit in with those plans.

Councillor Margaret Skilbeck said she could not understand O2's reasoning and questioned why it was not considering the industrial park about a mile away for the pole.