FURY erupted at a stormy meeting when angry locals turned up to fight plans for two mobile phone masts in York.

Mobile phone giant T-Mobile submitted applications for the masts - in the two busy residential areas of Tang Hall Lane and Albermarle Road, in South Bank's green belt - sparking objections from hundreds of locals.

Plans for the ten-metre pole at the junction of Melrosegate and Tang Hall Lane were deferred at City of York's planning committee meeting, after it emerged that a local nursery had not been consulted - despite being just 50 metres away from the proposed pole.

T-Mobile spokesman Mark Beevers told the meeting that the mobile phone operator generally consulted with schools within a radius of about 200 metres, but said the company had not realised the nursery was so close.

But the 8.5 metre pole in Albermarle Road will go ahead - despite nearly 40 individual protest letters from residents and a petition signed by 25.

The decision angered local Labour councillors, who said nearby schools had not been consulted.

Coun Dave Evans, pictured, said: "Many residents are objecting to the visual impact this will have on the attractive allotment area, and views of Knavesmire."

Government guidance states that it is advisable for councils and mobile operators to consult local schools near to any new mast applications, but they are not statutorily obliged to do so.

Planning chief Coun Ann Reid said that the nearest school to the Albermarle Road phone mast, Millthorpe School, was outside the radius where consultation was necessary.

"The design of the mast is almost identical to a telegraph mast - it would be very difficult to say there was anything detrimental to the green belt," she said.

In Tang Hall, 524 people signed objecting letters, and 72 protest letters were fired off to city chiefs.

Local resident Lydia Paish told the meeting: "It would be difficult for T-Mobile to have selected a site that is more closely surrounded by primary schools and nurseries.

"Regardless of the health risks, if the mast is approved a great deal of anxiety will be suffered by parents of children at all three schools."

Councillors agreed to defer the matter to an area sub committee meeting - before the application reaches its deadline on September 14.

But there was further anger at the meeting when locals said they had only been given a day's notice to turn up.

Tang Hall couple Bob and Rose Clancey said they felt "railroaded" after only being given short notice to voice their protest to the mast.

Both applications had been brought before the meeting as 'urgency' items.

Meeting chairman Coun Richard Watson said it had been necessary to call the meeting that week because of tight deadlines to determine applications.

Updated: 09:41 Saturday, August 27, 2005