Earnock mast plan which attracted 242 objection letters gets thumbs down from councillors

May 13 2010 by Alastair McNeill, Hamilton Advertiser

A CONTROVERSIAL plan to install a mast in a residential area of Hamilton, which attracted 242 letters of objection, has been turned down.

On Tuesday, councillors on South Lanarkshire’s planning committee refused to grant Vodafone’s proposal for a 32 ft. pole on pavement in Earnock Road beside Aqua Court.

The installation – part of a “strategic partnership” between Vodafone and O2 to share assets – would have featured three Vodafone antennas and three O2 antennas and ground level cabinets.

Planners pointed out that Vodafone (UK) Ltd had failed to demonstrate the application site was the most appropriate location, and that no suitable alternatives existed.

Hamilton West and Earnock councillor Tommy Gilligan told the committee the decision to turn down the application was “a victory for common sense” and one that would be “well received by the residents of Earnock.”

He added: “All of their complaints and objections have been well covered in the (planning committee) papers.

“However, they are concerned that Vodafone will merely move the application to a site further down the road and the whole procedure will begin again.”

Reasons for refusal put forward by planning chief Colin McDowall were: the proposal was “clearly contrary” to the government’s guidance on telecommunication development and the council’s approved policies, and would have an adverse impact on road and pedestrian safety.

The authority’s roads and transportation department had objected to the scheme, pointing out that the equipment would obstruct pedestrian and wheelchair movement – especially when the doors of the cabinets are open for maintenance works.

Since no parking facilities were available nearby for maintenance vehicles, parking on that part of Earnock Road would “cause an obstruction to forward visibility an disrupt safe flow of traffic.”

In a document put before councillors Mr McDowall explained: “The proposed location is a sensitive site because it is located in a residential area in close proximity to residential dwellings.

“The council’s approved Telecommunications Policy includes a strong presumption against telecommunications development within sensitive locations.

“From the list of 26 alternative sites that have been considered, the majority are located in residential areas.

“One would not provide the requisite level of coverage, one was discounted because it is considered that they would be more visually intrusive and have a higher impact for varying reasons.

“The applicant has not provided detailed information to determine whether the alternative options would be better or worse.

“Furthermore, it has not been demonstrated that the siting and design has been minimised to reduce any adverse impact on the amenity of the area and surrounding residential properties.”

Earnock residents reacted with anger in February when contractors acting for Vodafone began digging a ‘trial pit’ at the site.

No planning application had been submitted at that stage, but Vodafone pointed out that consent for the work had been granted by the council to enable the applicant “to plan the build” which, their spokesman added, would only take place if full planning permission was granted by the authority.