THIS APPLICATION WAS REFUSED

Application for Planning Permission for Mobile Phone Mast on Menteith Avenue across from the swing park.

If you would like to submit your objection to this Phone Mast you can do so using the form below.  We will send it on to the Planning Department.  We have outlined some of the points we will be making below.

Scale. This mast will inevitably lead to more masts being erected in this site. NPPG 19 states that “Planning authorities should take account of the cumulative visual effects of equipment … in assessing new proposals”. This mast is almost 100% bigger than existing street furniture.


Build form. The Council’s policy is not to encourage free standing masts

Location. The Council’s policy is that masts should be located in urban areas. This mast is located in a residential area. The proposal does not comply with Local Plan policy as it is NOT located near to commercial premises when in an urban area.

Amenity. The Council’s Development Quality Policies DQ1 and DQ2 state that all development should be compatible with the amenity and character of the area within which it is located. In particular, residential amenity will be strongly protected.

Health and Wellbeing. Whilst the possible negative health considerations of a phone mast are NOT material planning considerations, community wellbeing and amenity certainly are. The mast will be located directly adjacent to busy swing park and will cause concern to parents. ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection) public exposure guidelines say “there can be indirect adverse effects on their well-being in some cases”. It also said that the possibility of harm could not be ruled out with confidence and that the gaps in knowledge were sufficient to justify a precautionary approach. We would urge that the precautionary approach recommended by NPPG 19 is adopted due to the close proximity of a children's swing park

Consultation. The applicants have failed to engage with the wider community in any real sense of the word. Whislst they attended a local meeting of the Woodhill Residents Group, they did not which this to be a 'public meeting'.

Community Gain. Council may seek an appropriate scale of contribution towards environmental improvement in the area if the proposal is seen to have an unavoidable impact on the environment and local amenity. The applicant should be conditioned to provide the local community with a financial contribution to improved play facilities for children in the local area.






Below: Evening Times photographer at the corner of Angus Avenue and Wester Cleddens Road taking picture for news story.