Plans to replace a flagpole at an Oxford college with a camouflaged telecommunications mast twice its size have been approved - despite opposition by city councillors.

Only one member of the city council's central, south and west area planning committee spoke in favour of the proposal by Corpus Christi College in Merton Street, which involved the relocation of a 1935 bell and frame from its Bellhouse Tower to adjoining cloisters.

The college's proposal is the first to include an additional application for listed building consent for such a modern addition to an Oxford college dating back hundreds of years.

Plans were approved because the mast meets safety guidelines.

Conservation officer Nick Worlledge said the application for a 23ft replacement flagpole, combined with three 'shrouded equipment cabinets' hidden by the tower's battlements, had been called in for further discussion because of the fear of health risks.

The company behind the design, he said, was called Undetectables, and added: "The differences between a flagpole with equipment, and a flagpole, are negligible."

Mr Worlledge said the application met council policy about telecommunications masts approved last year, as well as national guidance endorsed by the Government, which states that there is no general risk of health problems to people living nearby. But this view was questioned by David Leake, of Divinity Road, east Oxford, a gardener at the college, who asked the committee: "What's the council's view of placing this sort of mast on your building? Would you allow it?

"I've worked at Corpus Christi for 25 years and I'm concerned about the health risk over this.

"We've had no information from our employers and I would like to see the council giving better guidance."

Green councillor Mike Woodin said: "We've been left with little room for manoeuvre in that the Government has effectively tied our hands. I don't want to support it but I wanted to help call it in to have a bit of a grumble."

Liberal Democrat Paul Austin said: "I'm sure asbestos was thought to be safe at one point, along with thalidomide and carcass beef infected with BSE. I find it pretty shameful that we've been put in a corner over this."

Labour's Colin Cook said he supported the plan. He added: "If a similar report came before me from the town hall, I would equally support the application."