Despite having two similar applications refused three years ago, Vodafone would like to place a new radio base station next to the junction between Birmingham Road and Beehive Hill - close to Priors Field Primary School in Clinton Lane.

According to the company, the area’s residents currently have limited access to its ‘3G’ - third generation - coverage, which gives mobile phone users access to the internet and video messaging.

But Coun Michael Coker (Con, Kenilworth Abbey), who sits on both Warwick district and Kenilworth town councils, said he expected Vodafone to be met with the same reaction to previous applications.

He said: “People are very concerned about having these masts close to their properties. It’s inappropriate in the entrance to the town. It’s highly visible, immediately close to residential areas and schools and it offends the rural aspect of that part of the town.

“Certainly I am very much against it and that is the reaction of the town council. The town council has replied to the consultation making it plain that we will object to it, as we did to the previous one.”

Andy Metcalf lives at the other end of Beehive Hill to the proposed site. He said: “We don’t live near enough for it to have an effect on us, but I just think these phone masts need to be put on farm land, away from houses. I don’t know why they don’t do that.”

Protesters defeated a Vodafone application for a mast at the same location in May 2005, along with another at the junction between Beehive Hill and Woodcote Avenue in December that year.

Residents had led a campaign urging their neighbours to send objections to the proposal to the district council, and succeeded in gathering 292 signatures for a petition and 136 letters of objection. In June that same year, plans to install an O2 mast in Priory Road were also withdrawn following strong opposition from people living in the area.

Mobile phone companies do not require planning permission to build masts of less than 15m but the views of the public are usually taken into consideration.

A Vodafone spokesperson said: “This location was chosen as it provides a backdrop of street furniture and trees, against which the proposed radio base station will not be visually intrusive. We have consulted the local planning authority, three ward councillors, the town council and the local primary school. We will not submit an application for this site until this consultation has been completed.

“We recognise that some communities are concerned regarding the deployment of radio base stations. All of our stations are designed, built and operated in accordance with stringent international guidelines laid down by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection. The adoption of these guidelines has the formal backing of independent bodies such as the World Health Organisation.