MAST opponents are celebrating more victories after two proposed schemes were turned down because councillors feared they would be blots on the skyline.

The applications were thrown out by Basingstoke council's development control committee even though both had been recommended for approval by planning officers.

After appeals from residents in both areas, the committee refused permission for a 33-foot mast by a double mini-roundabout at the junction of Cambrian Way and Buckskin Lane and a 40-foot mast in allotment gardens behind Chiltern Way.

Despite recommendations for approval by officers, councillors turned down both applications on the grounds of visual intrusion.

Mr Clive Sidwell told the committee that the junction of Cambrian Way and Buckskin Lane had always been an accident blackspot.

He said hedgerows at the spot had been removed because children ran out into the road from behind them, and also pointed out the two electronic control boxes that went with the mast would pose the same danger as hedgerows.

Cllr Tony Jones said the nearest house was only 25 metres away and the lounge window would look straight out onto a mast and two boxes.

Cllr Harry Robinson said residents had not been consulted by BT Cellnet over the mast plan.

Cllr Robinson's proposal that the mast be turned down on the grounds of visual intrusion was carried.

Mr Andrew Scott, of Worting Residents' Association - opposing the Chiltern Way mast - told the committee: "We have had absolutely no pre-application notification from BT or any consultation with them up to this point over this mast proposal.

"They have ignored the local interest."

Cllr Robinson said: "This is a very attractive area. We should not be putting street furniture in there and spoiling the attractive view."

Director of planning Tony Curtis told the committee: "We sent out 46 letters of notification on this to local residents and posted two notices at the site.

"There is an onus on the operator to undertake consultation. It could be said that we undertook that consultation in lieu of the operator undertaking consultations."

But the committee also voted against granting permission for the Chiltern Way mast on the grounds of visual intrusion.