Friday, September 07, 2007

A PHONE mast proposed for the Pickardstown area of Tramore has been given the planning ‘thumbs up’ - despite objections from local residents.

An Bord Plean·la has given the ‘green light’ to Meteor to provide the 21 metre mast despite the residents in Drumcannon, Ballinatin and Ballykinsella expressing fears about radiation and the visual impact on the area.

The householders had previously objected, in vain, to Waterford Co. Council who gave the development permission, subject to eight conditions, recently.

Aggrieved by this, they took their battle to An Bord Plean·la whom, it was confirmed last week, has now upheld the Council’s original decision and are allowing the mast be put in place.

An inspector for the board, Una Crosse, visited the site - which is located about 2km north of Tramore town west of the R675 and close to an existing Vodafone mast - on July 3.

She recommended permission be granted as she did not believe the visual impact of the mast - which she felt was the most significant issue presented by the development - would be unacceptable on the site in question.

Because of where it would be provided, close to forestry, the impact would not be “seriously detrimental”, she pointed out in her report.

The concerns over radiation, meanwhile, were a matter for ComReg (the Com -missions for Communications Regulation), not for planning authorities.

Meteor had applied for permission for their monopole carrying GSM antenna and dishes from the County Council back in October 2006 and the only objection received was one from collective residents of Drum-cannon, Ballinatin and Ballykinsella.

A decision had been originally due in February but then the local authority requested more information from Meteor and this was delayed.
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After examining the application, the Council’s own planner pointed out that the site was at the rear of forestry and providing screening was maintained, he didn’t feel the impact would be great.

He subsequently recommended permission be given subject to conditions. These included that this grant was for a period of five years only, that there would be no changes to the power output of the mast or the transmitter without a prior ‘nod’ from the Council and that existing trees close by be retained.

Residents had suggested that the new mast be colocated with the existing Vodafone one but Meteor claimed this was unsuitable for them as they needed a higher monopole.

It was largely due to this that the locals opted to lodge a planning appeal. They argued in their submission that this would lead to further ‘clustering’ by other mobile phone companies and further impact on the landscape.

Inspector Una Crosse, however, pointed out in her report that Meteor’s arguments against co-location were “reasonable” and given that radiation issues were relevant to ComReg, the most significant issue to be ruled upon was visual impact.

However, she had noted that as a person drove from Tramore, the existing mast wasn’t visible because the site was elevated and surrounded by trees. The proposed mast also wouldn’t impact to such a degree that it would be detrimental to the scenery, she said.

The board, in accepting her recommendations, decided to issue a final grant of permission, subject to 11 conditions.

Among these were the same stipulations ordered by the Council.