The mobile phone giant wants to install the mast on a grass verge between the Birmingham Road and Beehive Hill but Kenilworth town councillors Pat Ryan and Dave Shilton say the siting of the mast would not be in a good location for the town.

Coun Ryan said: "The mast is in the wrong place. It is on a gateway into the town, in fact literally beside the Kenilworth in Bloom display. It is too close to houses.

"It is quite possible to locate this mast away from houses and the road where it could be screened by trees."

He added: "I see no difference between this and the proposed mast at the corner of Crackley Lane. That was lost on appeal and the mast had to be located away from the main road and the houses, I see no difference in this case - the attitude taken by the planning inspector with regard to Crackley Lane applies equally here.

"I shall be representing the town council at the district plans committee if it is not withdrawn before then.

"My personal feeling is that Vodafone should save us all time and money and save the residents of that area a lot of worry and find themselves a more sensible site before it gets to that stage."

Residents on Clinton Lane, Birmingham Road and Beehive Hill have all been consulted about the plans and Coun Shilton is urging them to write to ensure their opinions are heard.

He said: "Residents must write in and make their feelings known on this. We won the battle against Crackley Lane, Knowle Hill and Common Lane so we have a good history.

"It would be terrible to put the mast on the suggested site, it is not suitable. It would be a distraction for motorists and an eyesore for residents.

"We're not saying a total no on the mast, just a no to where they wish to put it. If they can find an alternative site for it then it can be considered, but it needs to be out of sight, out of mind.

"Therefore we as a town council have requested that the planners at the district council refuse the application on those grounds."