Estate developers back telecoms mast proposal for Clare village 

DEVELOPERS proposing to build 41 new homes in Quin have given their backing to plans for a 30 metre telecoms tower, currently being considered by Clare County Council. 

In September, Vantage Towers lodged a second set of plans for the structure, after failing to secure permission for a mast on another site in the village. Reaction to plans for the current site at Quingardens is mixed, judging by submissions made during the public consultation phase. 

A submission from Datcha Construction, who are awaiting a decision next month on their plans for a new estate at Quingardens, is among seven that support the mast. Two objections were received, one from Quin Tidy Towns and another from Quin Heritage Group. The owner of the land also made a submission, confirming his consent to the project. 

Datcha Construction have backed the mast plan, saying it will make their proposed homes more attractive. “We would welcome this infrastructure development as it will further enhance our proposed development by way of delivering reliable phone reception and high speed mobile broadband to future residents,” their submission stated.

That support puts the developers at odds with Quin Heritage Group. Its members have told the Council they are “acutely aware” of archaeological remains close to the site, including ringforts and fulacht fiadh. “It is also important to point out a cilín (Children’s grave site) exists close to the proposed mast site that in no way should be compromised,” the objection stated. “We therefore deem it an unsuitable site to erect such a mast.”

A second objection, from Quin Tidy Towns, outlined how that group “have a strong commitment to preserving and maintaining Quin Village and respecting its historical, culturally-rich heritage that dates back to 1641”. The organisation, which has 30 volunteers, said the mast would “distort and disturb the surrounding landscape”.

“Moreover its proposed location on the main entrance road to the village from the motorway is not in keeping with the entrance to a rural village built around the magnificent Quin Abbey, founded in 1433,” the submission added. “All planning to-date is respectful of maintaining and enhancing as opposed to disrupting the centrality of the Abbey to the village and its surrounds.”

Meanwhile, six individual expressions of support for the mast have been received by Clare County Council. 

One local resident welcomed the proposed tower, saying “regular connectivity problems” are being experienced and that the mast would support people working from home. 

In another submission of support, a resident of Quingardens expressed the view that current infrastructure is “completely inadequate for the current demand”. It outlined an inability to take part in video conferencing, because of a poor broadband signal and difficulty, at peak times, with even sending an email.

The submission said is it “quite apparent that Quin Village requires this multi-use antenna support structure as it will directly improve our coverage and capacity of wireless broadband”. 

Another resident of Quingardens supported the mast, saying their property is within 300 metres of the site. Their submission expressed the view that the mast “will rectify the current coverage blackspot experienced in the area which will be of great benefit to the local community and local business”. 

Another Quin resident submitted a letter of support, expressing the hope that the mast would “eliminate the coverage blackspots in the area and deliver advantageous benefits to the community”. 

A further submission of support expressed disappointment at the rejection of the previous planning application for Vantage Tower’s previous planning application.

“Understandably your council must protest the deep heritage of Quin however we are being left behind due to the inability to access high speed and high capacity mobile 4G broadband,” the submission said. 

Another supporter of the mast described it as “very positive and uplifting for Quin Village and the surrounding area” and a way to “greatly reduce the existing coverage blackspots”. 

Planners previously turned down an application from Vantage Towers for a similar mast on a site at Quinville South. Earlier this year, that decision was copper-fastened by An Bord Pleanála. 

The Council is currently considering the fresh application for Quingardens and have given November 21 as an indicative decision date.