HUNDREDS of residents have won their year-long fight to stop a 58ft mobile phone mast being built at Marlow Football Club.

An appeal by telecommunications giant Orange was thrown out by the Secretary of State's Planning Inspectorate on Friday, May 13 sparking celebrations among those who protested against the mast.

Barry Fentiman, who helped set up the Local Marlow Community Camp-aign Group in opposition to the Oak Tree Road application, called it a "hugely significant victory."

He added: "We are absolutely over the moon and it justifies everyone's hard work in fighting for something we truly believed in. This sends a clear signal to the Government that where masts are proposed close to schools or residential areas, that with determined campaigns they can be stopped."

Last week's ruling, which found that the mast would be "visually intrusive" and would "significantly impair" lives of neighbours, followed Wycom-be District Council's decision to reject Orange's application last year. The application sparked uproar in 2004 with 1,000 people, including Green MEP Dr Caroline Lucas, raising objections.

Marlow Town Council decided not to refer the application to the district council, as it believed it would be a waste of time and money.

District councillor Alex Collingwood pushed for the application to be put before district planning chiefs.

Cllr Collingwood said yesterday: "Saying I am delighted is an understate-ment. Ordinary people have proved telephone companies don't always know best."

Dr Lucas said: "Mobile phone masts continue to be associated with negative health impacts. I'm delighted."

Cllr Tony Dunn, who said that he did not wish to "engage in battles it can never win", when he headed up the town's planning committee in 2004, admitted yesterday that he was now "prepared to eat humble pie."

He added: "I am surprised and delighted with the outcome."

A district spokesman said: "While much legislation relat-ing to telecommunications favours operators, it's encouraging that inapprop-riate proposals can be resisted."

Ray Frith, Marlow Football Club director, said: "It's up to them whether to take it further or look elsewhere."

An Orange spokesman said: "We are surprised and will reconsider options maybe another appeal, re-evaluating or looking for an alternative site, We need a mast in the area to fill the missing gaps in the network."