8 Application No C17/1266/16/LL Land at Bryn Cul, 2 Tal Gae, Tregarth, Bangor PDF 191 KB
Install one 17.5 metre high telecommunications mast including 3 antenna and 2 transmission dishes along with 2 equipment cabinets and 1 meter cabinet and ancillary work
LOCAL MEMBER: Councillor Dafydd Owen
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Erect a 17.5m high
telecommunications mast, including three antennae, two broadcast satellites,
two equipment cabins and one measuring cabinet and associated work.
Attention
was drawn to the additional observations that had been received
The
Members had visited the site.
a)
The
Development Control Officer highlighted that this was an application to erect a
high telecommunications mast on rough agricultural land to the west of the
development boundary of the village of Tregarth. It was noted that the mast would be a
monopole, set on a concrete base with three antenna and two transmission
satellites on the top; three equipment
cabinets near its base, and a 1.2m high fence around it to create a compound. It was intended for two companies, such as Telefónica UK Ltd (O2) and Vodafone Ltd, to use the
facility to improve 2G and 3G provision, and offer a 4G service due to the lack
of existing local provision. It was
reiterated that the applicant was attempting to satisfy Welsh Government's
desire of having an improved digital infrastructure in rural communities.
The Members were
reminded that the decision made on the application at the Planning Committee
meeting on 26/02/18 had been deferred in order to hold a site visit. At that meeting, Members had made a request
for the applicant to respond to some of the matters raised during the
discussion and reference was made to that response in section 1.7 of the
report. The application had been
deferred for the second time at the Committee on 16/04/18 in order to
re-arrange a site visit (the first visit had been deferred due to inclement
weather). It was highlighted that correspondence had been received from an
objector questioning the validity of the process of dealing with the
application and reference was made to the response in section 1.8 of the
report.
In the context of
assessing the application, it was noted that visual amenities and biodiversity
matters were the main material planning considerations. It was accepted that the proposed structure would,
unavoidably, be partially visible from public viewpoints due to the need for it
to be located in a relatively open location to ensure that it worked to its
full capacity. As the proposed site was
wooded, the mast would be relatively concealed from the majority of public
places and it would not overbear or dominate any private property. It was reiterated that a number of narrow and
high structures already existed in the area which included substantial trees,
telegraph poles and a row of electricity pylons. It was highlighted that the Biodiversity Unit
had asked for additional reports regarding the impact on ecology and trees as
the development was located on a site of unimproved agricultural land and that
mature native trees were located nearby.
It was considered
that the proposal was acceptable and that it complied with the requirements of
the relevant policies.
b) Taking advantage of the right to speak, the Local Member (not a member of this Planning Committee) made the following points; ... view the full minutes text for item 8
5 Application No. C17/1266/16/LL - Land at Bryn Cul, 2 Tal Gae, Tregarth, Bangor PDF 182 KB
Install one 17.5 metre high telecommunications mast
including 3 antenna and 2 transmission dishes along with 2 equipment cabinets
and 1 meter cabinet and ancillary work.
LOCAL MEMBER: Councillor Dafydd Owen
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Erect a 17.5m high telecommunications mast, including three antennae,
two broadcast satellites, two equipment sheds and one measuring cabinet and
associated work.
(a) The
Planning Manager reported that based on concerns raised locally about the
confusion with the site visit and the severe weather on the day of the visit,
it was suggested that the Planning Committee defer making a decision on the
application in order to revisit the site, to allow the Local Member to
participate.
(a)
The following points were made by the Local Member
(not a member of this Planning Committee):
·
That the Planning Committee had not visited the
correct site, namely on farm land and, therefore, how could the application be
discussed?
·
That the Planning Committee should be taken by
officers along Route number 12 towards the fountain site not on Bryn Cul land
·
That the site where it was intended to erect the
pole was much higher than where the members had been standing during the site
visit and, therefore, it was visually misleading because the trees and the
brambles formed a boundary between the two sites
(b)
It was proposed and seconded to revisit
the site.
RESOLVED to defer
making a decision on the application and to ask the Senior Planning Service
Manager to arrange another visit to the site.
5 Application No. C17/1266/16/LL - Land at Bryn Cul, 2 Tal Gae, Tregarth, Bangor PDF 263 KB
Install one 17.5 metre high telecommunications mast including 3 antenna and 2 transmission dishes along with 2 equipment cabinets and 1 meter cabinet and ancillary work.
LOCAL MEMBER: Councillor Dafydd Owen
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Erect a 17.5m high
telecommunications mast, including three antennae, two broadcast satellites,
two equipment sheds and one measuring cabinet and associated work.
(a) The Senior Development Control Manager
elaborated on the background of the application, noting that the site was
located against a backdrop of high, wooded land, above the A55 trunk road. The
plan was an amendment of a previously submitted plan on a site approximately
200m south that was withdrawn because of concerns about the possible impact on
a nearby scheduled ancient monument.
Attention
was drawn that observations had been refused objecting to the application
during the public consultation based on the concern regarding the possible
impacts on wildlife, harmful visual impact, harm to the designated historic landscape,
harmful impact on nearby relics, potential harm to the nearby trees, harmful to
the amenities of the users of the busy public footpath nearby and that the
development could be harmful to the historical well nearby thus polluting the
water flowing from it.
It was noted that Policy
PS 3 of the LDP supported provision of new facilities to extend or improve
connectivity through communication technologies in all areas of the Plan,
subject to appropriate protection measures.
It was reported that a
declaration of Conformity with the ICNIRP requirements (International
Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection) had been submitted as part of
the application, which confirmed that the development had been certified as
complying with the ICNIRP guidances, namely the
internationally recognised guidance for this type of development.
With this type of
development, it was inevitable that the proposed structure would be partly
visible from public places as it needed to be in a fairly open location to
ensure that it worked to its full capacity. Nevertheless, in this case, it was
believed that the site's wooded location meant that the tower would be fairly
hidden from most public places. On the whole, it was considered that the tower
was unlikely to have an obvious long-term impact on the visual amenities in the
local area.
It was noted that
information had been submitted with the application listing other sites that
were considered prior to deciding on this site. It was clear that these had
been disregarded for various reasons. It was therefore acknowledged that an
attempt had been made to find other sites but that this had been identified as
the most suitable for the proposal following the consideration of practical,
technical and amenity matters.
It was not believed that
there would be any significant detrimental impacts on the amenities of local
residents as a result of the development. It was noted that the site was
suitable in terms of its location and was acceptable in terms of its impact on
the general and residential amenities of the area.
The development was
acceptable in terms of relevant local and national policies for the reasons
noted in the report.
(b) Taking
advantage of the right to speak, an objector noted the following main points:
· That he was speaking on behalf of ... view the full minutes text for item 5