RESIDENTS have emerged victorious in their opposition to the siting of a mobile phone mast in Brandlesholme, following a Government ruling against the plan.

BT Cellnet, who want to install a mast at Garside Hey Road Garage, have failed in their appeal to the planning inspectorate asking for councillors who decided against the mast to be overruled.

Members of the Bury Council's planning control committee have twice refused permission for the mast to be constructed.

Inspectors visited the site last month and accepted written submissions from residents, planners and the company itself before making their decision. Ward councillor Yvonne Cresswell said: "We're all absolutely delighted. I think that the Government are now beginning to realise that that they can't allow these masts to go up willy-nilly.

"If residents have concerns they should be able to voice them properly."

According to planners, the decision has been made on the grounds that not enough information had been supplied about the equipment to go on the mast and landscaping work to be undertaken.

Bury Council's principal planning officer John Hodkinson said: "It doesn't appear to be dismissal of the idea in principle."

A spokesman for BT Cellnet said: "At the moment we do actually need a mobile phone mast to provide a service to people with mobile phones in that area, because there is a hole in transmission."

"We will have to look at why our application for the site failed and at other alternatives in the area."