PROTESTERS have lost their battle to prevent a powerful mobile phone mast being put up at a hillside beauty spot overlooking Bridport.

Vodafone has won its appeal against the district council's refusal to grant planning permission for the 15m-high G3 transmitter at the Hyde Plantation, Bothenhampton.

Their original application was turned down on environmental grounds by director of planning Dr David Evans, under delegated powers.

West Dorset MP Dr Oliver Letwin and Bridport district councillor David Tett were among opponents of the mast.

Bothenhampton parish councillors also protested - and later sparked outrage when their withdrew their objections.

With Vodafone exercising its legal right to use land nearby for a temporary mast - which it could shift just a few feet every six months - it was a case of "better the devil you know," they decided, especially if the permanent mast could be disguised as a tree.

But later the council threw its weight behind suggestions by village teenager David Beadle that the mast should be attached to existing electricity pylons in the area.

Now Government inspector Trevor Graham has ruled the mast can be built as origianlly planned. He said Vodafone was obliged to provide phone coverage for Bridport and needed to find a permanent site after losing its town centre mast through redevelopment.

Only limited coverage was now being provided by temporary installations including a mast in a field off Walditch Road near the appeal site.

He continued: "It is acknowledged that the site lies within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that extends over the entire Bridport area. However the appeal site, located amongst the trees and vegetation of the woodland, is very swell screened from all sides.

"It appears to me that subject to appropriate colouring and additional planting the compound, mast and all the antennas would be so well screened that they would hardly be seen or discernible from the town or the surrounding area."

Mr Graham said the fake tree mast had been ruled out as several real trees would have to be cut down to make way for its foundations.

He conceded that the antennas which needed to project above the trees would be visible. But he said they would have a "minimal impact".

And he stressed that the permanent mast would replace the temporary aerial off Walditch Road which did have an adverse visual impact on the Conservation area.

Parish council chairman Joan Regan said she was disappointed at the Inspector's decision.

"It is a shame they were not able to agree to David Beadle's idea to put it on an electricity pylon. We appreciate his efforts."

l Suggested town centre town centre sites for the Vodafone mast which were ruled out by the Planning Inspector on environmental, amenity or operational grounds included: Bridport Football Club; St Mary's Church; Port Bredy; Barrack Street; Bradfords Building Supplies; Bridport Aviation; North Mills Industrial Estate; Jack's Motors; Bridport Leisure Centre; Jewson's Yard, South Street; and J C Philips Gravel Yard, South Street. Other sites around the Hyde Plantation were dismissed for similar reasons.