PARISH councillors have once again rejected plans for a controversial mobile telephone mast in a village on the outskirts of Darlington.

Telecommunications firm One2One has applied to put a mast up on the western grass verge in Roundhill Road, Hurworth.

The mast, which would be 33ft-high, aims to provide a better service to people living to the north of Hurworth, and those who use mobile telephones on nearby roads.

But at a meeting this week, members of Hurworth Parish Council decided to object to the mast, which would also involve the installation of a ground-based equipment cabin.

Councillors cited road safety and environmental concerns as the reasons for their decision to oppose the scheme.

The village is due to have anti-speeding measures installed near to where the mast would be erected, and local people are concerned that it would cause an obstruction.

Parish councillor Ian Black said: "We have worked long and hard for a road safety scheme in the village, and there is still an awful lot of speeding going on.

"If that mast goes there it might confuse people and cause a hazard.

"People also do their best to keep their houses in order, and this would visually spoil the run into a nice village."

This is not the first time that Hurworth Parish Council has rejected plans for a telephone mast in the village.

In September, councillors twice lodged objections to a 75ft mobile telephone mast being put up in the grounds of Hurworth Grange Community Centre.

On that occasion, Castle Crown Communications was the applicant. The parish council rejected the scheme mainly on health grounds.

At this week's meeting, council clerk Ian Murphy said he had been advised that councillors should steer clear of rejecting the latest proposals because of health concerns.

Councillors said there were concerned about any health risks which might be posed by the mast, but they agreed to lodge their objection to the One2One mast only on environmental and road safety grounds.

The matter will now be referred back to Darlington Borough Council's planning committee