Proposals for a 40ft tall Vodafone mast in Tannersfield Way, just 400 yards from a mast put up earlier this year by rival company 02 outside Newmarket Leisure Centre, were outlined to town councillors on Monday.

That mast caused an outcry after it was discovered that it had gone up as the result of a blunder by Forest Heath Council, which had failed to respond to notification about the plans within the statutory time limit.

Residents also complained that they had not been asked for their views and that a planning notice on the site could not be seen.

Forest Heath has since been negotiating with O2 over the possibility of moving the mast but the company claimed it would need two masts to replace it at a cost of £150,000 each.

Vodaphone's proposal is also for a new generation 3G mast which, it claims, would fill the current gap it has in town coverage despite already having two masts in the area – one close to the A14 bridge just outside Exning and the other in Willow Crescent close to the Newmarket town football ground.

Newmarket Town Council's planning committee voted by a majority to oppose the mast which would be taller than nearby houses and lampposts and would have an equipment cabinet sited next to it.

Cllr Mick Jefferys said: "I can't believe that any telecomunications company can consider this as an acceptable site in the middle of a residential area. It is a complete eyesore."

But Craig Blackadder of Tyco Electronics, the engineering company which will build the mast, claimed it would look like other telegraph poles along Exning Road.

Vodafone spokesman Dr Rob Matthews said: "As part of our pre-application consultation strategy, we have written to the local planning authority, ward councillors and the town council. To date, we have received feedback from some of the ward councillors and will be considering this before submitting a planning application."

He said the company would not be consulting residents as it was not legally required to do so.

Exning Road resident, Diane McCusker, said: "I am very, very angry."

"I know it has to go somewhere, we all use mobile phones, but to put it near houses and a bus stop is wrong."

Will Burrows, who also lives in Exning Road, said said he was concerned about the mast's possible effects on health.

"Given its proximity to the houses, it is grotesque because of its unknown radiation effects," he said. "That's the reason people seriously object to masts being near schools."

Dr Matthews said: "All of our base stations are designed, built and operated in accordance with stringent international guidelines ."

A spokeswoman from Forest Heath Council said that its officers would be assessing the site in the near future and that feedback would be given to Vodafone, which would then have to formally apply for planning permission.