THEY succeeded once, now residents on a Winchester estate are ready to fight Vodafone again.

Dozens protested last week in Stoke Road, Abbotts Barton, just as they did three years ago.

Vodafone is trying again to build a mast in the street, and this time, is working with O2.

The firms want to build five masts in Winchester to boost coverage, including the one in Stoke Road.

A second is proposed at the corner of Stockbridge Road and Stoney Lane in Weeke near the Waitrose store.

Vodafone shelved a scheme there in 2009 after residents wrote dozens of objections to Winchester City Council.

It came after Hutchison 3G asked to build a mast in 2002 on the Texaco garage that later made way for Waitrose.

Residents fended that off with a 700-strong petition and threats to boycott the filling station if it went ahead.

Lydia Revett, who lives nearby in Parkside Gardens, said they were prepared to fight again.

“My personal feeling is that we’re as worried and concerned about this mast as the others, and anybody who has children is often concerned about the effects,” she said.

Mother-of-three Julie Mitton is one of those leading the campaign against the Stoke Road scheme, and helped to organise the protest.

“It’s frustrating that we’ve got to go right back to the start and everyone has to put in their objections again and again,” she said.

Residents had already suggested more suitable sites nearby, which were away from houses, she said.

Vodafone and O2 also want new masts in Chilbolton Avenue and at the junction of Winnall Manor and Alresford Roads.

Their fifth one would replace a smaller one where Ridgeway meets St Annes Close in Badger Farm.

Outside Winchester, there are also plans for a 15-metre mast at the Pitt roundabout where the A3090 meets Badger Farm Road.

Vodafone said it struck a deal 18 months ago with O2 to share sites where possible.

A spokesman said: “We have identified that we need to improve the 3G coverage to our customers in Winchester and have proposed five shared base stations in this area.

“We are aware that some members of the local community were concerned about sites previously proposed in Stoke Road, Abbotts Barton and Stockbridge Road, Weeke.

“We remain committed to providing the best solution in the most appropriate location and as such we are revisiting these sites as potential locations for mobile phone base stations.

“We are committed to community consultation in accordance with the mobile telecommunication industry’s best practice guidelines.

“Residents near Stoke Road have identified a number of alternate locations and we will look into these.”

Winchester City Council is expected to decide on the mast applications within a few weeks.