Future Not Orange

Mobile phone company Orange was told on Friday it could not install an eight-metre high mast and equipment box on the grass next to St Mary's Church, although it has six months to lodge an appeal.

A spokesman for Arun Council said: "We decided it would be prejudicial to the character of East Preston and Rustington conservation area and damaging to the setting of the existing buildings of merit and interest within it."

Orange originally applied for permission to install the mast on the pavement outside the church in December, causing uproar among the residents of East Preston, who branded the mast an eyesore.

The siting was considered a hazard to pedestrians and Arun told Orange to resubmit their application, which they did last month, re-siting it a few metres away on the grass.

Sarah Leighton had campaigned against the mast and was very pleased when she received the news:

"We are delighted that the Arun District Council officers agreed that this is an inappropriate area to put a mast."

More than 250 people wrote to the council to object to the mast and have said they will carry on fighting should Orange choose to appeal.