AN application to put up a 21-metre mobile phone mast in the grounds of St Albans City Football Club in Clarence Park has already met with objections from nearby residents.

A similar proposal for a mast, also made by mobile phone group Orange, was rejected in September 2001 after the council received 104 complaints objecting to the mast, 44 of which were concerned with the possible health risks.

Residents of the nearby York Road have already begun to voice their objections to the latest application.

In a letter to St Albans District Council, Paul and Louise Brecknell said: "Clarence Park is one of a dwindling number of Edwardian parks that still perform their original purpose at the heart of their local community.

"It is to be treasured for both social and aesthetic reasons: from both perspectives it is the jewel in the St Albans crown. To erect a telecom mast in the park would be to pollute it."

He said that the recent application is no different from the previous one as the masts are the same height and will still be within close proximity to a well-used children's play area.

Another York Road resident who asked not to be named said the mast would be yet another blight on the appearance of Clarence Park.

He said: "It seems that park is a dumping ground for everyone else's services but it doesn't seem to matter if local residents object."

Orange claims that the mast, which could stand in the south west corner of the pitch, has been significantly redesigned since the last application.

The new design has a lattice column to fit in with the ground's existing floodlight towers and the transmission dishes which were in the original application have been removed.

Clarence Park was donated to the district council more than 100 years ago as an ideal space to host sport and recreation.

A spokesman for the council said the Charities Commission had confirmed that as a mast would not interfere with the main purposes for which the park was donated it could not be a reason to deny planning permission.

Clarence Ward Councillor Sheila Burton said: "I will be calling for any research which has been carried out into the safety of mobile phone masts to be taken into consideration when the committee makes its decision."

The public has until March 28 to lodge objections to the proposal.