TWO Tory district councillors representing town wards have voiced their despair at not being listened to by representatives of giant mobile phone companies who want to erect masts in the area.

They say their opinions and objections put forward by them on behalf of residents about the siting of masts, are being ignored.

Councillors Caroline Spencer (Slideslow) and Rita Dent (St John's) also claim letters to representatives of phone companies go unanswered. This is despite the firms' claims, prior to submitting plans for permission to erect masts, that they welcome feed back from local residents.

The councillors are concerned chiefly about three masts - all within a short distance of each other in their wards.

They want to know why companies cannot use just one on which to erect their antennas.

The three are at New Road, the A38 near the Oakalls roundabout and at the back of premises at Parklands. Residents have raised strong objections to all three.

Referring to the New Road site Cllr Spencer said she accompanied one representative to look at three alternative sites but was given excuses over their suitability.

"I believe his mind was already made up before we went and he would not listen" she said.

The councillors believe there is an ideal opportunity for sharing one mast which is in a lay-by north of the Oakalls roundabout as it is not near homes but where there is room for maintenance vehicles to park safely.

Cllr Dent is also concerned about an application from Vodafone for another installation on the already crowded roof of the Telephone Exchange in Hanover Street, just 100 metres from St John's middle school and a short distance from a pharmacy and doctors' surgery.

Spokesman for T-Mobile, John Shaughnessy, said every attempt is made to share sites and more than 60 per cent are.

However, different firm's antennas have to be suitably spaced on a mast to avoid interference.

This could lead to larger more obtrusive masts having to be erected and often one small mast is necessary to serve a relatively small area. In the case of New Road no alternative site was suitable for planning or technical reasons, he said

He added firms are committed to consultation, but sometimes a compromise simply cannot be found.