HOUSEHOLDERS have launched a major protest against plans for a huge phone mast in a York community.

Council officials told only a handful of immediate neighbours about a BT Cellnet proposal for a 12.5m (more than 40ft) telecommunications tower at the junction of Broadway and Heslington Lane, Fulford.

But residents copied the notification, and have distributed it throughout the estate around Heath Moor Drive.

The angry householders have already forced City of York Council to change its handling of the controversial proposal.

It has now agreed to send the letter to more properties than originally notified, and extend the deadline from the original August 2 to allow comments to be made.

Now residents are calling on all concerned to write to the council expressing their views.

BT Cellnet plans to put the six-antennae mast beside a large tree and paint it green, measures it hopes will help screen it from view.

But objectors insist it will remain an eyesore.

Des Harper, who lives next to the site, said: "We don't want it - it's as simple as that.

"The health concerns of emissions are of great concern, but apart from that this is a nice area and this would be an eyesore.

"I know we have got to have these things, but there must be a better place to put them than in residential areas like this."

The tree is known to house a colony of bats, which are protected.

And residents are concerned that it is old.

"What happens when this tree goes?" asked resident Muriel Robinson.

"You can bet that BT Cellnet won't take the mast away."

Jennie McAndrew, who also lives close to the site, said: "My neighbours have already said they will put their home on the market if this mast arrives. There are a lot of people here who are scared of it.

"Although we are told there are no known health risks, it is a very, very grey area. What does it mean for this entire area?"

Another neighbour Judi Legg said: "If they could guarantee its safety, then I wouldn't have an objection to it. I'm not against technology, but I am against technology which can't be proved to be safe."

Along with health concerns, protesters are writing about safety for children who may climb the mast, visual aspects and its effect on property prices.

A BT Cellnet spokeswoman said:

"The National Radiological Protection Board, an independent body, and other reputable agencies have advised that there is currently no convincing scientific evidence of a risk to health through exposure to radio frequency waves below the national guidelines.

"We attempt to locate, as far as possible, new base stations on sites that minimise their social impact on the local community'whilst ensuring the public's expectation of good quality of service is met."

A City of York Council spokeswoman said: "People's comments are always taken into account when decisions are made, and this case will be no different."

Updated: 11:09 Thursday, July 26, 2001