Llanrwst Tetra mast refused at planning

Dec 4 2008 by Samantha Castle, North Wales Weekly News

Llanrwst Tetra mast refused at planning

PEOPLE in Llanrwst breathed a sigh of relief last week when controversial plans to install a communications mast at the town’s police station were turned down.

Members of Conwy county planning committee refused the installation of an 11 metre Tetra communications mast at a special planning meeting held at Glasdir on Thursday.

Councillors refused the application by Airwave Solutions by 10 votes to five, citing health risks to the community.

Planning officer Phil Hardwick said the mast would be located at the edge of a built-up area on the existing police building, which is part of a complex which also houses the ambulance station, library and council offices.

“The site is set back from the main road and the rear of the building is screened by mature trees,” he said.

“There are also existing telecommunications antennae on the roof. The nearest residential properties are 55 metres to the east.”

But county councillor Janet Haworth argued that the desirable distance should be much further away.

“I have it on good authority that the desirable distance for a Tetra mast like this from residential properties should in fact be 400m, as it is on all other mast applications. This is clearly not the case here,” she said.

“I think it’s about time we had policy audit on how many masts we have in this county and the level of income the council gains from them.”

The mast would form part of the system which provides radio communication networks for emergency services and in the event of a network failure, these radio protected sites would continue to provide full network coverage for the emergency services and public safety organisations.

But Llanrwst Town Council strongly objected to the structure, saying it was in the wrong place and near to residential properties, Glasdir, offices and library.

Cllrs Sandra Holmes, Jan Rollason and Pat Rowley joined protesters at the meeting.

“The proposal may also affect any future plans the council has for the site,” said Cllr Rollason.

The mast’s use of microwave spectrum transmission was brought into question by Cllr Emlyn Thomas: “What we are dealing with is vibrations which do have immeasurable effects on people. People will also feel psychologically damaged just by it being here.”

When the vote to reject the application was taken, councillors were met with a standing ovation from the group of public protestors.