FOUR sites in York are to house the 30-metre masts being introduced by Network Rail to help improve rail safety in the region.

The Evening Press can reveal that Station Rise, level crossings in Strensall and Bootham and an area of Dringhouses will be the sites for the 98-feet pyramid structures, which allow train drivers and signallers to communicate by radio.

The masts, which Network Rail says are essential to improve rail safety, and must be put up as part of the inquiry recommendations from the Southall train crash, need to be so large in order to work effectively.

The four York masts are part of a national scheme of more than 2,000. They will also enable rail workers to inform each other of potential dangers on the line.

Network Rail does not need planning permission to go ahead with the scheme, which comes under its permitted development rights. A Network Rail spokeswoman said letters had already gone out to homes which are near to where the four masts are due to be constructed.

She said the rail maintenance giant was working with City of York Council planners on the scheme. The masts will be in position by 2008 at the latest.

The company has insisted that the masts, which will cost hundreds of millions of pounds, will not carry commercial operators' equipment.

"The Station Rise mast will be on the nearest road to the stations. Across the county the masts will be placed at every eight kilometres. We wrote to the local authority in July and would like to hear their views."

Roy Templeman, director of environment and development at City of York Council, said: "We would like to work with Network Rail to make sure that the impact of the masts on the local community and environment is kept to a minimum.

"However, this will be on an informal basis because the project has permitted development rights and, as a planning authority, we would not be able to challenge it."

Updated: 08:22 Friday, October 31, 2003