THERE'S been a successful outcome for the majority of campaigners fighting proposals for new mobile phone masts in the Farnham area. Mobile technology giant Orange has announced it will be progressing only five from the original 13 sites suggested, and the more controversial ones are off the list. The company said that after 11 years, nine failed planning applications and a great deal of consultation, it had been decided to compromise on achieving blanket coverage in the area. "This does not give us the desired coverage, but we are being realistic about what we can achieve here and are prepared to look at some key sites that will provide us with adequate coverage," said a spokesman. "We have spent 11 years trying to get sites here, and people have suggested some alternatives for us to look at. Unfortunately this just inevitably moves the problem to someone else's doorstep and many of the sites we were asked to investigate were unsuitable for a number of reasons, and then further upset another group of people. "We could spend another 11 years going backwards and forwards trying to please everyone, so we have had to draw a line in the sand and make a finite decision." All five sites are needed in order for Orange to abandon the original plan, it was made clear. The five key masts being pursued include one of 15 metres at Tilford Road, near the junction with Stoneyfields, which will negate the need for one at Abbots Ride. A mast at the Bourne Woods will avoid the need for installations at Manor Gardens and Grovelands. And one on a site off the A325 at Wrecclesham which already hosts two seperate operators' masts will provide coverage to some of Shortheath and Boundstone. Planning applications for these three sites are being prepared and are expected to be submitted before the end of April. The two other installations proposed involve two small panels each on the side of The Sandrock and Hare and Hounds pubs, which would be installed under licence and would not require planning applications. The original proposals spawned a number of pressure groups including the Boundstone and Shortheath Mast Action Group a member of which, David Johnson, said "partial sighs of relief" had been the reaction. Judgement is still being reserved about the pub site proposals. "But broadly, we think it is the least worst option and it is much better than the original proposals for eight masts in our local area," said Mr Johnson. These were the three masts proposed down Sandrock Hill, two on Boundstone Road and three along Shortheath Road and Echo Barn Lane. Orange still hopes to be able to make use of the NTL site at Aveley Lane, which it sees as the alternative to the highly controversial proposal that it withdrew for the Frensham Road, close to the Bourne School. An ongoing dispute between NTL and site owners Surrey County Council has prevented Orange's use of the Aveley Lane site to date.