A MOBILE phone giant promised to move one of its masts from the town centre this week - a year after it was built without permission.

Yesterday (Tuesday) Vodafone's spokesman apologised for the delay, but said the mast would be moved from the Conservative Club car park.

"It should be dismantled by the end of the week and the new site up and running by Monday," she said.

"It has been quite difficult to give a time because we didn't want to leave anyone without a signal."

Workmen built the metal tower - which has overshadowed The Heath since last January - under powers dealt out by the Government.

Phone companies are allowed to build the masts in emergencies, but the decision was criticised by Knutsford residents.

Macclesfield Borough Council served Vodafone with an enforcement notice and the company promised to shift the equipment.

Hesitant

Yesterday their spokesman said the tower and cabinet would be moved to Mereheath Lane, but was reluctant to say more.

"I'd be quite hesitant of giving an exact location because we don't want people getting concerned, but Mereheath Lane is our next temporary site," she said.

However, a source at Macclesfield Borough Council suspected Knutsford Private Bowling Club was the new site.

Vodafone will be using the same emergency powers they imposed to keep the mast at the Conservative Club for the past year.

Yesterday the council's official spokesman said the company had also appealed against the enforcement notice, but a decision could take months.

"We had served them with an enforcement notice and that time was up at the beginning of December," she said.

"They lodged a last-minute appeal and now everything stands still because the decision has been taken out of our hands.

"We can't do anything until they move the mast."