A DECISION over whether residents should be compensated for a council bungle which led to a phone mast being built on their street has been deferred.

O2 was able to set up the 60ft mast in Honey Lane, Waltham Abbey, in 2006, after district council officers forgot to put in an objection on time.

The council's cabinet meeting heard it might now be possible to relocate the mast.

Director of planning John Preston said he had held a meeting with residents where he was told O2 might consider moving the mast to a previously refused site near the Marriott Hotel, in the town.

He said: “If there's still a possibility of seeing whether there is an alternative we have to seriously consider that.”

The council had planned to consider offering £250 compensation to ten residents who had registered objections to the O2 mast even though its own report suggested it had caused £120,000 of damage to property values in the area.

Waltham Abbey district councillor Syd Stavrou said: “This has been a very difficult situation to resolve- it's unfortunate it ever occurred. I'm not happy with the report. I couldn't give my support to it.”

Mr Preston apologised for the council failure and said procedures had been changed and officers had received training following the incident.

A decision on compensation was deferred for further discussion with O2.