SPARKS were flying in Charmouth and Lyme Regis this week after two TETRA masts went up unannounced on Wednesday. Residents of Stonebarrow near Charmouth called an emergency meeting with the shadow chancellor Oliver Letwin after one of the powerful masts, used for the emergency services, was erected within 200 yards of their homes. Resident Robbie Perry said he and his neighbours were appalled that the mast could go up on the protected World Heritage Coast, in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, without any consultation. He said: "We're not saying the system shouldn't be used, but it is totally wrong to put it up without any consultation - people should be given a chance to have their say." The MP for West Dorset, Mr Letwin, has backed Stonebarrow residents in their fight against the mast since 2002 and said recently that another site should be found. Meanwhile in Lyme Regis, following the refusal of its application to build a driving range, the golf club courted further controversy by allowing a 60ft TETRA mast to be erected on its practice field, which is also in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty over looking the Harcombe Valley. Peter Sitch, spokesman for Airwave said the two masts had been erected because the company had been forced to move an existing mast at the golf club's 18th tee. He said to maintain the same coverage as that provided by the existing mast, two were now necessary. He said the company was allowed to erect masts like this using emergency powers under the telecommunications act. He said at Stonebarrow, he hoped to be able to move the mast permanently to an existing NTL mast located nearby. He said in Lyme Regis, the company was looking to "resolve the situation." He blamed the activities of golf club members who had fought against the original mast, saying: "We're not particularly happy about the situation, it would make sense to have just one mast. I'm sure the residents don't want a situation where police and ambulance and fire brigade won't be able to operate." Golf club members voted overwhelmingly in an extraordinary general meeting last year, to have the mast at the 18th tee removed after club bosses failed to consult them. A Lyme Regis couple told this week of how two Airwave employees turned up at their house unannounced recently and asked if they could erect a TETRA mast in their field. Bob and Zara Bowles, who live in Shire Lane next to the Woodroffe school playing fields said they told the men, who offered them money, they weren't interested. Mr Bowles said: "Prospectors from Airwave wanted to build a TETRA mast. I declined because of the alleged health hazards. It would be quite inappropriate to transmit radio waves in the middle of the school playing fields where 900 youngsters play. I told them I wasn't happy about the whole thing and sent them away with a flea in their ear."