BT has been criticised as insensitive after putting up a 30ft pole carrying telephone lines in a conservation area.

The pole was installed without warning in Red Lion Passage, Malvern, on Saturday, August 26.

St Ann Residents' Association chairman David Byram-Wigfield said the only communication residents received was a notice on the pole stating that objections could be made once the work was complete.

"The fact that such an insensitive installation can take place without any consultation is a cause for considerable concern," he said.

"If they had asked us we would have said we wanted the wiring underground. This is the oldest part of Malvern and the sort of area we want to preserve wherever possible."

Malvern Civic Society has written to BT asking for the pole to be removed. Committee member Roger Sutton said there were Government guidelines concerning telephone wires in conservation areas.

"Our basic point of view is that there shouldn't be any telegraph poles or wires in a conservation area," he said. "The idea of a conservation area is that you try and keep the historical appearance."

BT spokesman Jason Mann said it had been asked to install a new phone line and the pole was neccessary to comply with health and safety regulations, stating lines must be a certain height above a carriageway.

"We're talking about a small passage, but there are vehicles that do use it so we have to comply to the requirements," he said.

"Our people have looked at the site and put the pole in what they believe is the best position available."

MHDC assistant planning officer Nicky Wardroper said, although the site was in a conservation area, BT did not need consent to put up the pole. She added: "However, it has caused some unrest so we will write to BT ourselves and ask them to reconsider the location."