Anger as reporter approves Hamilton mobile phone mast application

Dec 2 2010 Hamilton Advertiser

PROTESTERS battling against plans for a mobile phone mast near the site of a triple fatal accident were this week dealt a blow.

A Scottish Government reporter has upheld an appeal against a decision by South Lanarkshire Council to refuse plans for the 45ft mast and base station in Earnock Road.

Following an inquiry into the application, reporter Karen Heywood concluded that the impact on neighbouring residential properties would be “limited”.

News of the decision infuriated Earnock Residents’ Association who fear the mast will distract drivers on a part of Earnock Road considered an accident blackspot.

They were also concerned that the mast was planned within 35ft of a school crossing patrol.

Children heading for Townhill primary cross the road there.

Residents are planning a special meeting of the association to discuss Ms Heywood’s decision.

O2 and Vodafone applied to site the mast on the pavement next to a grass verge in Earnock Road, close to houses in Aqua Court.

The site is less than a quarter of a mile from the spot where, in January, 2009, three men died when their car left Earnock Road and ploughed into a house in Dalton Hill.

Residents say the tragedy was the worst of one of a number of accidents on that stretch of Earnock Road.

O2 and Vodafone said the mast was required to improve 3G coverage in the area.

No fewer than 242 objections were lodged against the application.

Councillors refused the application in May on grounds that the proposed mast would partially block the pavement.

They were also of the opinion that service vehicles, visiting the mast, may park in the road and cause an obstruction.

Mr Heywood rejected the council’s reasons for refusal and dismissed the views of the application’s objectors.

She said the mast, described as a “slim monopole”, would be about 40 yards from the nearest house.

Because of trees that line Earnock Road, it would only be seen “obliquely” by residents living in nearby houses.

Ms Heywood was of the view that the mast and cabins would occupy about 1ft 8ins of the 7ft-wide pavement.

“I do not consider this would cause insuperable difficulties in this location where sightline are good,” she added.

There was an area of hard standing close by where service vehicles could park off the road.

Ms Heywood said O2 and Vodafone had explored 26 other sites and could find no building, such as churches, in which the equipment could be concealed.

An alternative location in a field, suggested by the residents’ group, would result in two masts being required to serve the area.

Residents’ association chairman Ken Neeson said they had asked the reporter to visit the site between 8.30am and 9.30am, during the school run.

However, it appears her visit took place between 3.30pm and 4.30pm after children had left nearby Townhill Primary.

Mr Neeson added: “We feel she came at a time when she couldn’t properly judge the dangers of that road.

“She didn’t see the children crossing the road at a point near the proposed site of the mast.

“Our fears are that the mast will distract drivers on a stretch of road where children cross to go to school and which we consider to be an accident blackspot.”

He continued: “People will be in an uproar when they learn about this decision.

“We will convene a special meeting but the only avenue open to us would be to go to the Court of Appeal and that would cost money.”