RESIDENTS are protesting against a second proposal to put up a mobile phone mast in a sports club only yards from their homes .

Earlier this year, phone company Orange, through KDC Communications, applied for planning permission to erect a mast on the Harlow Hill Tennis Courts, in Harrogate, against the wishes of residents.

More than 100 letters of objection and a petition were sent to Harrogate District Council, and in March, campaigners won their battle when the application was turned down.

But a matter of months later, residents learned that a second application had been submitted for a mast in the same location, with only a few minor alterations.

One protestor, who did not wish to be named, said: "We just can't believe that our concerns have fallen on deaf ears and that the company are trying once again to put up the mast.

"We are gravely concerned about the adverse impact this will have on the house prices and of course it will be very unsightly and a possible health risk to us all."

Pat Nash, Harlow Hill Tennis Courts committee president, said: "For the pittance they would pay us, we certainly wouldn't do it for the money.

"We realise the strong feeling among the neighbours and we don't want to fall out with them about it. If there's going to be a huge problem, then of course we would listen to the local residents."

But with a number of masts already erected on the nearby water tower and at the local squash club, committee secretary Frank Carter said he could not understand why there should be a problem.

"I would understand if it was the first one to go up, but there are already a fair number so I can't see a great adverse effect from this one."

The application was made on August 18 and is expected to go before the council in the coming weeks. Orange was yesterday unavailable for comment.