Chandler's Ford phone mast protesters get top support as Vodafone tries again

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 14th Jul 2008

Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne and Lib Dem Chandler's Ford campaigner Martin Tod are backing local residents opposed to a new Vodafone mast proposed for the junction of Leigh Road and Bournemouth Road.

Mr Huhne and Mr Tod joined local protesters Cindy and David Blades at the site of the proposed mast in Chandler's Ford, pictured here.

The mast was previously refused by planning officers back in February 2008, but Vodafone applied again on July 2nd with a modified design of 12.3 metres in height, compared to the previous application's 14 metres in height.

Chris Huhne MP commented: "Hardly anything has changed since the previous application which was rightly refused. Vodafone need to stop behaving like Count Dracula coming back from the dead, and take no for an answer. They should listen to local residents and find a better site. What matters now is that local people's arguments are listened to and this application refused."

Martin Tod added: "This feels like a game of Whac-A-Mole. Almost all the problems with Vodafone's previous attempt to build this mast are still here with their new attempt. Local residents have won the argument once and deserve to win the argument again.