AN angry resident is spearheading a campaign to prevent a 15 metre telecommunications mast being erected in Horrabridge.

Ian Robinson has put up posters and is distributing letters to residents who may be affected by the One2One application for a proposed mast at West Wheal Robert mine.

This is a reapplication by the company. A previous application to Dartmoor National Park was submitted in 2000 then withdrawn.

Mr Robinson said residents were 'appalled at the arrogance' of the company.

'Not only is it prepared to ride roughshod over the wishes of the local community — which clearly does not want this mast spoiling our beautiful landscape — but it is also prepared to ignore the opinions of a number of local experts who wrote in about the unique archaeological features of this site,' said Mr Robinson.

He said that at the original application there were more than 40 letters objecting to the scheme and a 150-signature petition.

Mr Robinson criticised a report submitted with the One2One application for saying there were no listed buildings in the area. His own property, a 14 room house, is a Grade ll listed former mine captain's house.

The current application also incorrectly sites the proposed mast in his front garden.

'All the maps are wrong. The site is actually adjacent to my land — but the map shows it is right on my land,' said Mr Robinson.

Mr Robinson is joined by a number of residents and the Dartmoor Preservation Association in a campaign against the plan.

In a letter to the Dartmoor National Park, chief executive of the Dartmoor Preservation Association John Bainbridge said the association 'wishes to lodge the strongest objection'.

He said there was 'no proven need' for the mast which would be an intrusion into 'an otherwise unspoiled area'.

Mr Bainbridge also outlined ecological reasons why the association believed the mast should not be built. This included the fact it would disturb a badger sett. He said an archaeological report submitted with the application showed 'little understanding of local and industrial archaeology'.

Objectors have until January 28 to submit their objections.

Principal planning officer for the Dartmoor National Park, Colin Jarvis, said One2One had been asked for a more detailed map to determine the position of the proposed mast.

He hoped the mast application would come before the members on February 1.

Mr Jarvis said the park authority was going through the consultation process at the moment.

'We have had some objections. We are also getting comments from our own experts,' he said.

A spokesman for One2One said: 'Revised plans are now being drawn up.'

He said it did appear there had been an error on the plans and that it was not proposed to put the mast on Mr Robinson's land.