AN action group has been set up to fight Network Rail's plan to install 98ft high communications masts in Bere Alston and Bere Ferrers, following a public meeting on Monday evening.

Network Rail says the masts are part of a new communications system to make railways safer and do not need planning permission to be erected, but local residents have questioned their value on a small branch line where only one train runs at any one time.

Around 40 people attended the meeting in Bere Ferrers Social Club, which was supported by the parish council.

Parish councillor Brian Lamb said: 'We accept that concerns of safety and managing trains is Network Rail's business and that this is very important, but residents here are very angry about the lack of consultation and discussion and in particular the environmental impact of the mast which will be seen for miles around.

'This is an area of outstanding natural beauty and the site at Bere Alston is just inside the World Heritage Site. There are also conservation areas all around.

'The Government lays down all these protections and controls on the Tamar Valley but when it comes to the pinch it is meaningless.'

Mr Lamb said the trains on the Tamar Valley Line were controlled from St Budeaux in Plymouth. The Tamar Valley line is a siding in railway terms and the controls at St Budeaux only allow one train on the line at any one time.

'The train goes from Plymouth to Gunnislake and back again and then the next train goes up and back, that is how it works,' he said. 'Why do we need this gold plating on this small branch line when it is designed for high speed trains travelling on a network of lines across the country?'

The action group is hoping that the March 7 start date for installing the masts will be put back in order for a meeting to be held with Network Rail. The group is also approaching West Devon MP Geoffrey Cox and Sir Roy McNulty who was appointed by the former secretary of state last year to lead a special rail value for money survey.

West Devon Borough councillor for Bere Ferrers Robin Musgrave said it was 'quite extraordinary that this level of expenditure was being carried out for something which seemed unnecessary'.

He said:?'The national scheme is costing billions of pounds. Network Rail could have made a bit of a saving if it had looked a bit more selectively at where it needed this facility.'

Another public meeting will be held at Calstock Village Hall on March 11 at 7pm as Network Rail's plan to erect a mast at Calstock Railway Station has also created controversy.