PROTESTERS have launched a campaign against a controversial phone mast application that they say will eat into Southampton Common.

Mobile phone giant Vodafone has submitted an application to build a 12m mast in Hill Lane. The mast and two cabinets would be set back from the pavement towards Southampton Common, directly opposite Taunton's College.

The application comes just months after Southampton City Council launched its bid to grab back ancient common land from homeowners' extended gardens and large pavements.

Vodafone says the application is on highways land.

Campaigners say the phone mast will blight the precious public land - and fear approval could pave the way for more applications.

They are urging council planning chiefs to scrap the proposal and help protect the historic Common.

Kate Martin, from the Southampton Common Protection Group, told the Daily Echo: "We think it's something of a cheek for a commercial organisation to depend on open space, which they have not provided and are not contributing towards, to fulfil their commercial interests.

"The Common is a site of special scientific interest. Open space is very precious in this city and these masts can be pretty imposing.

"Vodafone should be looking at light industrial sites in the area, not at the Common."

Terry Matthews, councillor for Shirley, added: "I believe this is an encroachment on the Common, because the site is a recess in the pavement that goes into the Common. Southampton City Council has launched this bid to grab back the land, and this seems to go against it."

The application, which is lodged by Vodafone through agents FPDSavill, is due to be decided before January 17.

A spokesman from Vodafone said: "The installation is on highways land between the pavement and the fence. We don't feel we are encroaching."