Disappointed residents have lost their nine-month battle to stop a mobile phone mast going up on a listed building near schools and an old people's home.

Mid Sussex District councillors have reluctantly given Hutchinson 3G permission to put up the 5m mast disguised as a flagpole, three antennae and a satellite dish on the Sackville Water Tower in De La Warr Road, East Grinstead, despite resi-dents' fears about possible health effects.

Eight councillors on the planning committee voted for the mast and three against. Members said there was little they could do to stop the proposal going through.

The council received 18 letters of objection from residents and East Grinstead Town Council recommended refusal as the site is close to primary and secondary schools, a children's nursery and elderly sheltered accommodation at Sackville College.

The town council also felt the proposal would have a detrimental effect on the conservation area and the listed building.

Hutchison first put a proposal forward in August but it was turned down by the north area planning committee.

Christine Field, leader of the district council and planning committee member, said she did not want to pass the proposal but felt there was little the council could do to stop it.

She said: "I wouldn't want this mast near my house but I don't think we have any grounds to refuse it."

She said they were restricted by Government guidance and the public had a false idea of the amount of influence councils have on the issue.

Committee vice-

chairman Councillor Alan Brooks said: "Unless something other than health grounds is raised, we would lose this on appeal."

After the meeting, Peter Herbert, speaking on behalf of residents, said: "We're disappointed and frustrated. The town council is against this so I thought the planning committee would support them.

"Research into phone masts is inconclusive and we're worried about the possible impact on people near the site.

"The old people in Sackville College are virtually housebound so will constantly be in the range of the emissions."

District council planning officer Nick Rogers said he felt the proposal would have minimal visual impact on the area and follows the Government guidance on telecommunications development.

His report also said that, according to the Government, the planning system is not for determining health safeguards and it is the Government's responsibility, not the council's, to decide what measures are necessary to protect the public's health.