HOW ironic that the picture to illustrate the proposed 9.7-metre high mobile phone mast outside All Saints' Church in York should feature in the foreground a similarly large mast ('Fears over mounting number of phone masts', January 18).

What is the difference between the existing and the proposed mast?

One is for the council's CCTV camera, the other is for a mobile phone base station.

Are councillors' objections to the proposed mast symptomatic of the hypocrisy that allows the council to erect forests of road signs, but if a local business puts up a sign advertising for trade the council will object because it could cause confusion for motorists?

Dr Duncan Campbell,

Albemarle Road, York.

Updated: 10:41 Friday, January 21, 2005