THE public gallery at Reigate Town Hall was crammed full of protesters as councillors sat to discuss three phone mast planning applications.

Most had come to lend their weight to objections against the siting of a 15-metre telecommunications mast on Allotment Gardens in Gatton Park Road, Redhill – near the grounds of St Bede's School and properties on Carlton Road.

With 75 online objections, the feeling of residents was clear, but planning officer Darren Williams explained the council's planning department was recommending the application for approval.

After an hour's discussion and to loud applause, the application was unanimously rejected, as the council took an unexpected stand against phone giant Vodafone.

John Manfield, secretary of Carlton Road Residents Association, summed up the concerns of many: "We have two main areas of objection – the first is regarding the visual impact.

"This mast will be a considerable eyesore, visible to a large number of houses, and will cause a considerable loss of visual amenity in an area which is noted for its beauty.

"The second objection is in relation to the proximity of the mast to St Bede's School. We understand there is no evidence mobile phone masts are detrimental to health, but there is a certain amount of unease and several bodies, for example the Health Protection Agency, suggests more research is needed into the long-term effect of exposure before they can be deemed safe with any certainty."

Carlton Green resident John Pays added: "No one has ever come to my house, or my neighbours' houses, to assess the visual impact.

"I was not consulted by anyone about this application, and none of my neighbours appear to have been consulted either."

Vodafone was invited to make representations at the meeting, but declined to do so, leaving the councillors to decide between their own officers' recommendation and residents' wishes.

It was almost immediately clear the council had decided to take a stand.

Council leader Joan Spiers said: "If it's council land, it's residents' land as well. They don't want it, the school doesn't want it, Vodafone can't prove these masts are safe. OK, we can't prove they are not – but why on earth should we take the risk?

"I've lived most of my life without a mobile phone. I'm none the worse for it. If there is a hole in reception, people will need to wait until there isn't."

And Councillor Michael Miller, who represents Horley West, was in combative mood, adding: "Most of us use mobile phones. However, with the advances of technology that we now have, 3G, 4G whatever that is, I would have thought the operators could have come up with a far better facility than sticking unsightly poles up.

"The time has come for us to start standing our ground here, and reject these unsightly poles. We've had dead trees, fir trees disguised, and the time has come to say no."

To loud applause from the public and obvious signs of jubilation, the application was unanimously rejected on the grounds that the proposed mast by virtue of its height and design would be unduly prominent to the character of the locality and street scene.