Retention permission granted for ‘looming presence’ in Scariff

Vodafone Ireland Ltd has been successful in receiving retention planning permission for an existing 27m high telecommunications support structure at Drewsborough Road, Scariff.

 

The planning application was met with concern by local residents Helena Minogue, and Robert Sanderson of Drewsborough Road, who outlined in a submission that “the mast is a looming presence in our lives as we continue to live in its shadow”.

The retention permission was sought by Vodafone Ireland Ltd for an existing 27m high telecommunications support structure carrying associated telecommunications equipment, and associated equipment cabins, within a fenced compound. The planning application notes that the development will continue to form part of Vodafone Ireland Ltd’s existing GSM and 3G Broadband telecommunications network.

In their submission filed with Clare County Council, Ms Minogue, and Mr Sanderson explained the mast, which is the subject of this planning application 12/567, is situated “at a distance of just 20.7m at the closest point to our boundary and approximately 60m from our back door”.

“Our quality of life and sense of well-being have been compromised in an unacceptable manner. We are being deprived of the enjoyment of our home, and that sense of safety and security that people associate with being in their homes,” they state.

“When an individual chooses to use a mobile phone, this is a free choice, made based on available knowledge concerning the potential health risks of doing so. The radiation exposure experienced is temporary intermittent, and totally within their control, they can switch off anytime they like. We have no such choice, living in such close proximity to this base station we are subjected to radiation, 24 hours a day, seven days a week – there is no respite – we cannot switch it off. Exposure continues during sleeping, a time when people expect to feel safe and secure in their homes. Exposure levels are not from a single mobile phone, instead we are exposed to cumulative emissions from the muiltiple transmitters in existence at this site,” they explained.

“Given its location to the immediate rear of a row of houses on the road linking the village of Tuamgraney to the town of Scariff, in a scenic route much travelled by tourists, both domestic and international, this inappropriate structure would not be granted permission if an application to construct it were to be made today.

“It is not, as stated the currently application by Vodafone ‘an established part of the landscape’ but is totally incongruous in its location, and a visual eyesore,” the submission continues.

The planning inspector noted in his report that the “subject mast was permitted in 1978 and is an established part of the area”.

“In this case the subject structure is an existing structure which has been in place at the site for at least 20 years and which is now an established part of the area. The subject application does not seek permission for any new form of development rather permission is sought to retain an existing development,” the planner noted.

He recommended planning permission be granted having agreed that it “does not impact to any significant degree upon the visual amenities of the area”.

Ms Minogue and Mr Sanderson’s submission urged the council that “local authorities have a duty of care to the people living in their jurisdiction which in our view includes matters relating to levels of exposure to non ionising radiation emissions”.
“We would ask each member of the planning committee considering this submission whether you would like you and your family to live right next door to such a structure when so much remains unknown about the potential future impact on health, resulting from long term exposure to such radiation emissions,” they stated.

They recommended that Clare County Council “deny permission for retention of this mobile phone mast together with its associated transmitters and works”, “that the mast be decommissioned with immediate effect that the council place a demolition order on it, and ensure that such order is expediently carried out so that the mast and site can never again be used in such an inappropriate way, in such close proximity to residential property”.

Planning permission was granted subject to three conditions. The first is that the development shall be retained in accordance with the drawings and particulars as received by the planning authority on September 10, 2012, except as may otherwise be required in order to comply with the following conditions.

The second condition states that in the event that the telecommunication structures and antennae are no longer required they shall be demolished, removed and the site reinstated at the operator’s expense. Meanwhile the final condition is that the developer shall provide and make available, on reasonable terms, the proposed mast for the provision of mobile telecommunications antennae of third party licensed mobile telecommunications operators, in the interest of avoidance of a multiplicity of masts.