Phone mast plands in grounds of Avonbridge Hotel

Feb 4 2010 by John Rowbotham, Hamilton Advertiser

PLANS to site a 48ft mobile phone mast in the grounds of a Hamilton hotel have angered nearby residents.

Vodafone and O2 propose a flagpole-type mast, with three antenna, on a grassed area at the corner of Carlisle Road and Barncluith Road.

The companies say they need the base station next to the Avonbridge Hotel to improve reception for mobile phones and other devices.

Letters dated January 19, outlining the firms’ plans, have been sent to people living near the site.

People have 14 days from that date to submit their views.

Following the consultation, the company will decide whether to submit a planning application for the scheme.

People have been puzzled by the letter, from Glasgow-based Mono Consultants Ltd, which states that the two phone companies “are in the process of progressing a suitable site in the Silvertonhill area”.

Later, the letter points out that “there is a specific requirement for a radio base station in Laighstonehall to provide high quality 3G coverage.”

Masts of the type proposed cover a half-mile radius and Laighstonehall is over a mile from the proposed site.

Barncluith Road resident Tom Welsh and some of his neighbours objected to the erection of a mast near them.

“It is planned to situate it right on the main road and will be very distracting for drivers approaching the roundabout (at the junction of Carlisle Road and Miller Street),” said the 64-year-old IT consultant.

“There will be a loss of amenity for residents and there’s also concern about the radiation risk associated with structures of this type.”

Mr Welsh has lived in Barncluith Road for 28 years and his home is about 30 yards from the intended site of the mast.

He added: “We don’t think this is an appropriate site and believe it should be placed closer to the area of need.”

Pro forma letters of objection are already being circulated among neighbours living near the site.

Vodafone spokesman Dr Rob Matthews said customers expected to be able to use their mobile phones and devices “where they live, work and travel”. There was a need to improve 3G coverage in Hamilton and for this reason they proposed a new mast in the grounds of the Avonbridge.

Dr Matthews said the location was chosen “as it provides a backdrop against which the proposed mast will not be visually intrusive”, adding: “We recognise that there was a mistake in the consultation letter, as it detailed that this site was to cover the Silvertonhill and Laighstonehall areas of Hamilton.

“This site is only providing 3G coverage to the Silvertonhill area.

“ We apologise for this mistake.

“We have received some feedback from local residents and are assessing these before moving to the next stage of the process.”

He added that in March last year they entered into an agreement with O2 to share network assets wherever possible.

As part of this agreement, O2 will also use the proposed site at the Avonbridge Hotel.

The Advertiser last week reported anger among residents over a proposal by Vodafone and O2 for a 45ft mast alongside Hamilton’s Earnock Road.

Again, the base station is designed to plug a gap in reception for 3G, the latest generation of mobile phones.