WANBOROUGH residents are objecting to a third mobile phone mast being erected in their village.

They say they are concerned about the long term health effects of the mast and also fear it will spoil an designated area of outstanding beauty.

Permission for the 50ft pole is being sought by Hutchison 3G for the launch of its third generation mobile phones later this year.

The proposed site is within the compound of the Thames Water Pumping Station at the Hollow, off Ham Road, which is an area used by walkers, cyclist and horse riders.

The village already has two masts. One is 350 metres south of the proposed site and the other is on Fox Hill.

Swindon Council has deferred making a decision on the planning application until councillors carry out a site inspection. Wanborough Parish Council has already lodged strong objections.

Shirley and John Holdsworth, of Ham Road, have been campaigning to get other residents to make their protests heard.

Shirley Holdsworth said: "Our main objection is on health grounds. We don't know a lot about the health issues and no-one seems to want to tell us.

"We don't want these things all around us. There is already a mast behind the houses on Ham Road and another to the side of the houses. This area has been designated an area of natural beauty. It should be left alone."

Andrew Bennett, chairman of Wanborough Parish Council, said in addition to concerns over health, the mast is unnecessary because there are already two in the area.

"We don't understand why Hutchison can't share one of the existing ones," he said. "It's not justified that big business can do what it want sand impinge on the local environment.

"The area in question has been designated an area of natural beauty and a 50-foot mast would stick out like a sore thumb."

Andrea Riley, community affairs manager at Hutchison 3G, said the company could not share the current masts because there was not enough space.

"We have to show that the operation of our masts work well below international standards so that no health effects arise," she added. "Swindon is a centre for technology and as part of our licence our network has to cover Swindon due to its population and affluence."