Town councillors have given a resounding no to controversial plans to put up a 20-metre mobile phone mast in a sports park.

Abingdon town councillors opposed the Vodafone application for Tilsley Park - saying no decision should be made until the Government's report on the safety of phone masts is unveiled later this month.

They also said the plans were contrary to the wishes of the farmer who donated Tilsley Park to the people of Abingdon, John Greening.

The Vale of White Horse District Council will now consider the application for the popular leisure area - which already sports a 15m temporary communications mast. The proposals have sparked a flood of objections from local residents, Mr Greening, Long Furlong Community Association, users of Tilsley Park, sports club officers, environment groups and local schools and brownies.

At a planning committee meeting, town councillors heard an impassioned plea from resident and leading campaigner Dr Barbara Johnson of Rose Avenue, Abingdon. She told the meeting: "Tilsley Park is a public park in Green Belt land where large numbers of people gather, especially youngsters. It is also part of a residential area and the proposed site is within 150 metres of houses.

"The park was intended for the pleasure of the people of Abingdon and beyond. Erecting a mast in Tilsley Park would be morally and legally wrong." Dr Johnson argued there were well-founded concerns about health hazards which could not be ignored, and the mast would have an adverse economic impact on the park and spoil its appearance.

Cllr Lesley Legge said: "We have to be very careful in making a decision if it is going to affect people's health."

The site in Dunmore Road, Abingdon, was donated to the Vale by Mr Greening in 1984 in memory of his son John who died in a road accident in 1979.

Mr Greening has written an angry letter of protest saying: "I did not donate this land so the Vale could make money by a allowing a health endanger- ing mast on it."

David Danielli, of Vodafone, said the mast would be 150 metres from homes and research to date showed no substantiated health risks.

Story date: Saturday 08 April

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