A FOURTH mobile phone mast will not be built in Warrington Road, Penketh, after plans were rejected.

The planning committee went against the advice of borough council officers to defeat the planned mast.

The location was around 40m from a children's play area opposite and was one of seven looked at by phone company Hutchinson 3G.

Phone masts cannot be objected to on health grounds because the Government has said there is no evidence they cause harm.

Clr Fiona Bruce, who spoke in objection to the plan, said afterwards: "I am delighted.

"The committee were brave enough to take this decision and to stand up against the oppressive regulations that mean we can't bring certain things into consideration."

The committee decided the mast, which would have been the fourth in around half a mile, would have harmed the street scene', which includes a bus stop, a bin and substation.

John Russell, a Warrington Road resident who spoke on behalf of objectors at last Wednesday's meeting, said: "I would like to see my village be a village, not a village with poles all over the place."

Keith Johnson, who spoke at the meeting on behalf of Hutchison 3G, said the company was reviewing the situation before deciding what to do next.