The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
PLANNING permission has been granted for a 36-metre telecommunications mast to serve a north Clare community.
A support structure, carrying antenna and dishes, enclosed within a 2.4 metre high pallisade fenced compound, at Coillte Ballydonohoe, Rooska, Lisdoonvarna has been given the green light by planners.
In a document accompanying Cignal Infrastructure Ltd’s application, it said, “Deploying a 36m tower with a headframe at Coillte Ballydonohoe will allow this site to accommodate three mobile operators and a broadband provider, all above the surrounding topological clutter, thereby extending the reach of communications technologies into areas that currently have poor or non-existent mobile wireless voice and data services.”
It claimed the proposed structure would allow operators to bring “significant improvement” in voice and broadband services to the area, particularly Toovahera, Ballteige, Toornahaun, Fernhill, Knockagaff and Caherkinalla.
The structure would facilitate multiple network operators to deploy a number of different types of technologies. These may include 2G voice services, 3G voice and data, 4G data and 5G services. In addition to coverage enhancement in the target areas, customers will also benefit from a better choice of mobile or broadband operator for high speed data services, the application stated.
This would in turn lead to greater competition between operators and provide improved options for local residents and businesses, Cignal stated.
Regarding the site selection, the document said, “The target areas for service improvement include Toovahera, Ballteige, Toornhaun, Fernhill, Knockagaffa and Caherkinalla and all surrounding roads, businesses, farms and housing.
“Given the terrain, current coverage is limited in the surrounding. No other surrounding sites can provide the required level of coverage in the target areas, therefore they are unable to provide adequate services.
“The main reason is their distances from the target areas, the heights of the existing structures and the general terrain.”
It stated that by deploying a 36m lattice tower at Coillte Ballydonhoe, all operators, mobile and broadband, will have a dedicated slot for their antenna and transmission equipment.
Each of the slots will be above the tree clutter and with sufficient separation will avoid interference between operators, Cignal claimed.
“There are other mobile sites in the area, however, these sites have been discounted as they are too far away from the target coverage areas and cannot provide coverage.”
A number of objections were made, with concerns about the visual impact, but the Council planner did not accept them.
In their report the planner stated, “I refer to the third party submissions received, in particular the concern that the height of the structure will be above the forestry line and will interfere with the natural skyline.
“It is acknowledged that the upper reaches of the mast will be clear of the forest canopy line. However this level of visibility is considered acceptable, given the nature of the structure and the requirement for it to be located in elevated topography for maximum efficiency.”
Regarding claims that the service in the area is already sufficient, the Council stated, “I refer to the third party submissions received in particular the assertion that there is sufficient coverage in Ballydonoghue.
“However it is noted in the technical justification there are other areas which require better broadband and telecommunication services including Toovagera, Ballteige, Tornahaun, Fernhill, Knockagaffa and Caherkinalla.”
Planning permission was granted subject to six conditions.
Owen Ryan
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked for a number of other regional titles in Limerick, Galway and Cork.
