AN EIGHT-MONTH battle to stop the siting of a mobile phone mast close to homes and schools may soon be over.

Campaigners' hopes were dashed last month after the planning inspectorate upheld an appeal by the mobile phone giant Hutchison 3G to allow the mast to be erected on Hazel Stub roundabout in Haverhill.

In a last-ditch plea the campaign team wrote to the company's chief executive, asking him to consider an alternative location at Homefield Road.

The group received a call from 3G's corporate affairs manager Mike Davies stating the firm would look at the alternative site.

An engineer will survey it this week.

A campaign team spokesperson said:

"We are delighted and grateful for this apparent show of goodwill from 3G which we hope could be a solution for all concerned. If successful, we may at last see a leading global giant who is prepared to listen to the views and concerns of local people".

Public feeling against the location of the mast has been strong with residents, local councillors and MPs protesting.

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