DISAPPOINTED: Chris BlakeGAZETTE & HERALD: BOSSES at Chippenham Sports Club have decided goodwill comes before cash and turned down an offer of £60,000 for a radio mast at the town's football club.

Mobile phone giant O2 wanted to erect a 22.5 metre radio mast, two dishes and three antennae on a floodlight at Hardenhuish Park.

But after several objections from people living nearby, Chippenham Sports Club's committee said it would rather lose out on the money than annoy local residents.

"You can't put a price on goodwill and we don't want to fall out with our neighbours," said chairman Mike Smith.

The sports club would have kept £30,000 and given the rest to Chippenham Town Football Club, which needs all the help it can get to pay off £85,000 in debt.

Football club secretary Chris Blake said it was "disappointing news".

"I can't say I'm surprised. We always knew it was going to be a fairly contentious issue masts always are these days," he said.

"But for the football club it would have meant some income which we weren't expecting, so it's disappointing.

"Saying that, I can fully understand the neighbours being worried by the mast and its size."

He reiterated that the club needed as much income as possible if it is to have a future.

"Money is vital, because without it the club will fail," he said. "We are semi-professional and rely on donations, sponsorship and getting money through the gates in any way we can if we're going to survive."

Campaigner David Pickering, who lives just 80 yards from the club on Hardenhuish Avenue, said the decision proved the club had community values.

The 67-year-old former Westinghouse director delivered copies of the planning application to local residents to raise awareness of the issue.

"I've had two or three phone calls from people and everyone is genuinely pleased with the outcome," said Mr Pickering, who has been a member of the club for 30 years.

"From our point of view it shows common sense that they paid respect to what the residents want."

Former Chippenham policeman Charles Carter, of Yewstock Crescent West, said he was glad that "good sense prevailed".

The 57-year-old, who is an ardent Chippenham Town supporter, feared the mast could cause nausea, headaches and possible cancer.

"Feelings were very strong round here that we didn't want this to go ahead," he said. "We are very pleased with the outcome.

"The club has looked upon its neighbours very kindly so I've just written to the chairman to thank them for their help."

The plans involved attaching the mast to an existing floodlight near the tennis courts. The sports club would have used the extra money to help keep subscription costs down.

Angela Johnson, press officer for O2, said the company would be withdrawing its planning application and searching for another site in Chippenham.

"If one landowner turns us down we will be looking for another land or site share opportunity in the area," she said.

"With the increase in the number of mobile phone users we do need better coverage in the Chippenham area."