Local appeals over Eir masts

An Bord Pleanála is considering appeals over Eir telecommunications plans in Cloughjordan, Borrisokane and Roscrea.

Three appeals were notified were in the space of a week last month, all involving recent grants of planning permission to Eircom Ltd (t/a Eir).

In Cloughjordan, St Michael’s National School appealed permission granted last November to Eir for a 15m monopole beside the school. The plan includes antennas, dishes and associated telecommunications equipment, all enclosed in security fencing.

The school’s board of management was one of several parties to lodge objections to the plan with Tipperary Co Council last year. In a detailed submission, the board expressed concern at the siting of the mast seven metres away from the gable-end of the school building. It would stand “more than twice the height of the school, which in our opinion would be an eye-sore, not to mention a danger, and cast a constant shadow on our school”.

The submission stated that the 15m monopole would be built within three metres of the school, where 133 pupils, 15 staff and numerous parents/guardians walk every day. Guidelines were cited indicating that “only as a last resort” should free-standing masts be located in towns or villages.

“We in St Michael’s National School feel that the erection of this monopole would have a huge negative impact on the school visually and a negative impact on everyone’s emotional wellbeing, as nobody can guarantee beyond a shadow of a doubt that it wouldn’t impact on the health of everyone, especially the children in our school and the crèche next door,” the submission reads.

Jim Casey, Chairman of the Board of Management of First Steps Crèche, lodged a submission expressing similar concerns. He said the mast would be situated within proximity of educational facilities for 213 children and 25 staff between the crèche, primary school, two autism units, playgrounds and extra classroom facilities in the MacDonagh Schoolhouse.

In August, the council requested further information from Eir, expressing concerns over the proposed location of the mast in proximity to the school and querying whether any new, greenfield sites had been considered for the development. Eir responded that were no greenfield sites available to it. The proposed location was an existing telecommunications site. There was a steel and timber pole at the location but it could not accommodate the required infrastructure. The applicant cited guidelines stating that “if sites within the vicinity of a village are necessary then existing utility sites should be considered”.

The council granted conditional planning permission for the development. The school lodged its appeal on December 8. An Bord Pleanála is to deliver its ruling on the case by April 21.

BORRISOKANE AND ROSCREA

An Bord Pleanála received an appeal over another Eir mast proposal at Shesheraghmore, Borrisokane, on December 3. An appeal in the name of Matthew Ducie has been made over the granting of permission last November for a higher mast at the Eir exchange beside the GAA premises.

This development involves replacing a 15m telecommunications monopole with a 21m monopole together with antennas, dishes and associated telecommunications equipment.

The appellant had previously made a submission to the council stating that there had been no consultation with the family about the development, and also expressing concerns over health impact, house devaluation, visual impact and proximity to the family home. Eir stated that the existing 15m structure was too low to meet the required coverage levels in the town. Conditional planning permission was granted on November 12. An Bord Pleanála is to issue its decision by April 4.

Similarly, An Bord Pleanála is considering a ‘leave to appeal’ case involving a mast plan at the Eir exchange on Gaol Road, Roscrea. Jason Shortt is listed as a party; the case was to be decided by Wednesday of this week.

Eir was last November granted conditional permission to replace a 20m high telecommunications monopole on the site with a 24m high telecommunications monopole together with antennas, dishes and associated equipment. Eir stated that the existing structure was not high enough to meet the required coverage levels in Roscrea and surrounding areas.