Battle over Cloughjordan phone mast

Hundreds sign petition against telecoms pole planned beside local school

A telecommunications company's determination to install a monopole beside a school in Cloughjordan has met with equally determined opposition from the local community.

More than 250 people had this week signed an online petition opposing Eir's plan to erect a 15m telecoms mast beside St Michael's National School. More had signed physical copies of the petition organised by members of the school's parents association, who say they are “deeply concerned” about the mast, for which planning permission was granted by Tipperary Co Council earlier this month.

“This concern stems from the potential radiation exposure that could affect our children attending this school,” the petition reads. “Monopoles are known to emit non-ionising radiation. The proximity of this proposed monopole to our local primary school and residences is alarming and poses an unnecessary risk.”

The planned monopole represents a second attempt by Eircom Ltd (t/a Eir) to provide a new telecoms mast at the existing Eir exchange compound in the village. A previous planning application was granted by the council but shot down by An Bord Pleanála last year over the proximity of the proposed mast to the adjacent houses at MacDonagh Avenue and the visual obtrusion it would pose.

The board's decision was welcomed at the time by Bawney Hayes, Chairman of the Board of Management at St Michael's, who said the proposal would “not have been good” for the school of 137 children and adjacent crèche of 70.

‘OPTIMAL LOCATION’

But Eir returned last December with a fresh application and a revised design comprising a “shrouded monopole”, which would reduce its visual impact on the surrounding village. In correspondence with the council, Eir's agent submitted that the application site beside the school is the “optimal location” for such a development, given its established links and utilities. The applicant added that it had “carefully reviewed all potential site options and structure designs”.

Eir also informed the council that it has “stringent health and safety policies and codes” in line with the standards of the International Non-Ionising Radiation Committee. “Attention should also be drawn to Circular 07/12, which reiterates that ‘planning authorities should be primarily concerned with the appropriate location and design of telecommunications structure and do not have have competence for health and safety matters in respect of telecommunications infrastructure. These are regulated by other codes and such matter should not be additionally regulated by the planning process’.”

Eir furthermore informed the council that it had an operator requirement to improve services in Cloughjordan village. “The area surrounding the application site, including St Michael's National School, Thomas MacDonagh Centre, residential properties, business and community facilities, experience inadequate Eir 4G and 5G coverage,” the applicant stated. “As 3G services cease, this will exacerbate the need for modern services. The proposed structure is ideally located to capture the target catchment area.”

The new mast would “significantly improve 4G and 5G coverage, help eliminate coverage blackspots and make a significant positive contribution to the benefit of residents, businesses and social enterprises in the surrounding area”, Eir's agent stated.

St Michael's NS Board of Management hit back with an objection to the plan over the location of a telecoms mast within 3m of the walkway into the school. Concern was expressed over visual impact and lack of clarity over the number of antennae and dishes that would be placed on the monopole.

'EYESORE'

Standing more than twice the height of the school, the board regarded the proposed monopole as an “eyesore”, and it added: “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 board of management contended that Eir had chosen this site as “the cheapest solution for the company, as it owns the site and the exchange is alongside it. There is no logic to the suggestion that the site is ideal as it is not located in a high point of the village”.

However, following its assessment of the case, Tipperary Co Council granted planning permission to Eir. Among the conditions imposed was a requirement that no additional communications antennae, drum-shaped dishes or other telecommunications equipment be fitted to the exterior of the monopole without a prior grant of planning permission.

The council also stipulated that in the event of cessation of all operations, all infrastructure was to be removed from the site within three months of cessation.

St Michael's NS Board of Management is to again appeal the council's decision to An Bord Pleanála. The petition organised by the parents association is to be submitted as an observation on the appeal.

“We urge Eir Mobile and relevant authorities in Cloughjordan, County Tipperary, Ireland, to reconsider this decision for the safety of our children and peace of mind for parents associated with St Michael's National School,” the petition reads.

“Please sign this petition if you share these concerns about potential health risks posed by close proximity monopoles near schools and homes.”

The petition is available online at change.org/cloughjordan and at any shop in Cloughjordan.