Campaigners fighting to remove a telecommunications mast in Otley have carried out a cloak-and-dagger operation to covertly measure its length.

They claim it could be in breach of planning regulations, and have called for its immediate demolition.

The group used specialist engineering equipment, on loan to a campaigning resident who is a professional engineer, to measure the mobile telephone company One 2 One's mast, which is positioned at the Auction Mart in Leeds Road.

Hampered by the crowds of people at a car boot sale at the site on Saturday, the group returned the next day to take the measurements in more secrecy.

Now the group says according to their measurements the mast exceeds 15m - meaning it would have required planning permission.

Under current legislation, telecommunications companies can only escape formal planning permission if the mast - not including the antennae - does not exceed 15 metres.

Councillor Nigel Francis (Ind, Danefield), who is leading the protest, said the group now intended to send its findings to the director of planning at Leeds City Council.

He said: "We have measured the mast and to the best of our knowledge the head, the antennae and the concrete base is well over 15 metres. Measuring from where the antennae start it is still over 15 metres. It is 17-and-a-half metres all in all and the antennae are not that long."

A spokesman for Leeds City Council said: "If Mr Francis writes with his concerns to the director of planning he will read them and act appropriately."

Barrie Turner-Smith, of One 2 One, said: "It is the pole itself that has to be 15 metres and as far as we know all our poles are made at the same place so it is unlikely any would be over 15 metres. We think the rules exclude the base."

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