PLANNERS have won their battle to prevent a controversial Tetra radio mast being built at a beauty spot in the New Forest.

Airwave MMO2 Ltd has lost its appeal against the refusal of planning permission for a 22.5-metre mast beside the A35 at Lyndhurst Reservoir.

The district council's planning committee rejected the application on environmental grounds last summer.

Airwave lodged an appeal but government planning inspector Colin Ball has upheld the council's decision to refuse consent for the mast, which would have been just 300 metres from homes at Swan Green.

Mr Bell's report says the site is next to an existing mast used by three mobile phone operators.

The report adds: "The area has an attractive rural character, typical of this part of the New Forest, and two permanent masts would be extremely intrusive.

"The applicant has investigated one alternative site at Romsey Road.

"However, the council has suggested other nearby sites that do not appear to have been considered.

"All three have the potential to be less visually intrusive than the proposed scheme."

Summing up, Mr Ball adds that the New Forest landscape is of special environmental importance.

"Both national and local planning policies permit telecommunications installations only where there is no viable alternative and the installation would be unobtrusive.

"This proposal would meet neither of those requirements.

"The recognised need for the installation is outweighed by the harmful effect it would have on the character and appearance of this part of the New Forest Heritage Area."

Tetra stands for Terrestrial Trunked Radio, a digital communications system used by the emergency services.

Last year Airwave was forced to remove a Tetra mast at Home Farm, Hythe, after the council threatened to dismantle the equipment, which had been installed without planning permission.