Chandler's Ford residents fighting a controversial telecommunications mast plan in their neighbourhood have been left furious by a planning blunder.

For after months of campaigning, the Valley Park locals have now been told that the tetra mast, which was put up last October without planning permission for police communications, stands in Test Valley and NOT Eastleigh.

Tonight Eastleigh council's Chandler's Ford and Hiltingbury Local Area Committee was due to consider a planning application from Airwave MMO2 for permission to keep the 22-metre high telecommunications tower on site at South Midlands Communications in School Lane, Chandler's Ford.

Planners were recommending the mast should be allowed to stay for another six months - but Eastleigh Council has dropped a bombshell by admitting that the mast actually stands in neighbouring Test Valley.

The admission has amazed local residents in Valley Park who have waged a campaign to fight the application - lodged in February. They raised two petitions and sent 64 letters of objection on the grounds that:

The mast was put up without planning permission.

Fears over health and safety.

It was visually intrusive.

The mast was close to homes and a school.

It was only as planners prepared the report for tonight's meeting that the error was discovered - and even Test Valley Borough Council, who had been consulted about the application, made no response.

Leading campaigner Ian McQueen, 35, said: "It is quite unbelievable that after six months they have found that the site of the mast is in a different authority."

Mr McQueen said campaigners were now trying to see if their objections and paper work could be trans-

ferred to Test Valley to speed up the matter.

He said: "People in the area are very cross about this. This mast is ugly and people have to live with it every day when they open their curtains in the morning and close them at night."

Local Valley Park councillor Alan Dowden said: "I am outraged and I am sure locals will be. I just don't understand how this could have happened."

An Eastleigh Council spokesman said: "The South Midlands Company premises and much of its site is within Eastleigh borough.

"However, during preparation of the report prior to determination of the application at the Chandler's Ford and Hiltingbury Local Area Committee, a close inspection of the site and the borough boundary map showed that the land to the rear of the building on which the mast is located is just within Test Valley borough.

"The applicants have now withdrawn their application which will be submitted to Test Valley Council."

A spokesman for Airwave MMO2 said the aerial in Chandler's Ford met Whitehall guidelines.