ANGRY residents in a Gwent community say local councillors let them down by allowing Vodafone to site a 15 metre telephone mast near their homes.

As previously reported, people living in Emlyn Terrace and Graig View, Talywain are now fundraising for a costly high court battle with the communications giant.

Papers were recently served by solicitors acting on behalf of the campaigners.

Vodafone was given the green light by Torfaen council's Planning department in May to site the mast on land belonging to Talywain Rugby Club.

Residents are concerned about risks associated with mobile technology. "Councillors had a moral duty to ensure residents were fully informed about the plans - they knew about them as early as January 2004," said Kath Gullick of Communities Acting Together.

She added: "Residents in the community have been let down by their councillors, the planning authority and Talywain Rugby Club."

Councillor Ken Clark, one of Torfaen council's three members for Abersychan told the Argus he "naively" believed residents would be written to by the planning department.

"In our opinion planning let us down. We assumed letters would be sent out to all residents in the area. Planning said they had put the relevant notices up - but there were only two."

Cllr Clark suggested a new approach should be adopted with regard to mobile phone mast applications, which are currently treated as deferred, which means they do not come before a full committee.

"There are a lot of masts throughout the borough, including many parts of central Cwmbran, very close to peoples' homes," he added.

His comments were echoed by former mayor Doug Davies who said he was not contacted by anyone about the application.

"If people do have concerns then perhaps it should be looked at again," he said. The third ward councillor concerned, Gwyneira Clark previously said she was backing residents, and also blamed the planning department.

Torfaen's planning department has said it performed its statutory duty in putting up notices for residents.

Talywain Rugby Club stands to benefit financially from the siting of the mast, but has declined to discuss the matter. Mrs Gullick said residents would need to raise about £5,000 for a High Court battle.