A VILLAGE green has been saved from a 20-metre high mobile phone being erected on the land following a row over the plans.

Some residents living around Lockerley Green were shocked to discover a letter outlining plans to build the mast on the green.

A pre-application letter from construction group, Galliford Try PLC, stated the mast would be needed to rollout "smart energy metering access" in areas where mobile signal is too weak for meters to work.

It could also give "improved coverage for voice and data services" to O2 customers, according to the letter.

However, after residents voiced their outrage over the proposals, a spokesperson from Cornerstone, which Galliford Try is an agent for, revealed it has agreed to spare the green and look at other sites for the mast.

They said: "Cornerstone, who manage O2’s planning applications, proposed a base station at Lockerley to enhance local network coverage for customers in the area.

"As a result of consultation with the local community, we agreed to look into other potential sites in the area."

This comes after deputy leader for Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC), councillor Nick Adams-King, announced a crunch meeting was organised by Romsey's MP, community leaders and a representative from O2 in a bid to relocate the mast.

Mr Adams-King wrote in a Facebook post: "Thanks to Caroline Nokes, a meeting was held between representatives of Lockerley Parish Council, Lockerley's TVBC councillor, Ali Johnston, and I with a representative of O2.

"At the meeting, we explained that there was very much an appetite for a phone mast in Lockerley, but that the current proposal was not the right location.

"I'm delighted to tell you the O2 representative agreed that, given the planning concerns, they would not be proceeding with an application for the current site and would work with the parish council to find an acceptable alternative one."

As reported, one resident was atonished to receive the letter outlining the plans for the mast, claiming a hole was already dug in the land for it in February.

Liz Davies, who lives in Lockerley Green, said: "I was really quite shocked when it arrived about three weeks ago and the fact Galliford Try only seemed to contact four households immediately made me and my husband, Cled, suspicious because it affects so many people.

"We saw them digging a hole in the green in February and I cannot tell you the shock it gave me, because we have a beautiful village green and this would be a horrendous eyesore."

A fellow resident, Peter Funnell, also slammed the plans and explained: "I recognise the drive to improve rural mobile communications, but placing a 20m phone mast on a village green, when there are other sites potentially available, defies belief.

"Village greens are a precious asset and, once lost, they are gone forever."