PROTESTORS are preparing for fresh battle to prevent the introduction of a mobile phone mast near Meols railway station, writes Selina Phillips.

A proposal by telecommunications company O2 to install a mast on greenbelt land near Bertram Drive North was turned down when it came before Wirral council's planning committee last month.

Now an amended second application has been submitted and is being processed.

Hoylake and Meols Cllr Gerry Ellis is rallying opposition. He said: "The mast will now be a couple of metres shorter but, as far as we are concerned, all the same objections apply and we are actively protesting against it.

"The mast is unsightly, unattractive and inappropriate for greenbelt land where it will be too close to nearby houses."

The first application saw more than 150 people sign a petition demanding that it be scrapped.

Wirral planning authority will make its decision about the proposed second column early next month.

Cllr Ellis said: "We are working together with petitioners and hope that the planning committee will once again reject this application.

"If any more applications are made by O2 then we will certainly oppose them."