RESIDENTS were cock-a-hoop today after winning a long-running battle to have a mobile phone mast sited away from their York homes.

A compromise deal between phone giant O2 and Heslington Lane residents has been given the green light by City of York Council.

Planning councillors voted to approve the bid, despite an officer recommendation for refusal.

The compromise was struck after residents, backed by the Labour MP John Grogan, protested strongly against plans to site a mast at the junction of Heslington Lane and Broadway - yards from residential properties.

The new application is for a 17.5m mast opposite Fairways Garden Centre, Heslington Lane.

Under this scheme, the mast will be sited on the edge of the green belt and planning officers said it would adversely affect the area.

But councillors agreed that a special case had been made and passed the new plans.

Local councillor Andy D'Agorne today welcomed the decision.

He said: "I'm very pleased to find that common sense has won through. This is the lesser of two evils."

The Green city councillor also backed an O2 idea to landscape the area where the first mast was earmarked, preventing it from possibly being snapped up by another mobile phone operator.

An O2 spokeswoman said she was pleased technical requirements of the network, planning guidelines and residents' concerns had all been met.

"We have worked together with the community and it's brought about a very significant result.

"We recognise that residents have concerns and wherever possible we will try and do what we can to alleviate them."

Nearly a dozen residents attended Thursday's planning meeting, alongside Mr Grogan.

Residents were now being contacted about what work O2 can carry out on the original site.

Fulford parish councillor Judi Legg told the Evening Press in July that she hoped the compromise would set a precedent for other areas in York.

A council spokeswoman said the plans will still have to be approved by the Deputy Prime Minister because they involved the green belt.

Updated: 11:16 Saturday, August 14, 2004