Submission against the siting of a phone mast in The Clump

11.49.15am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 11th Apr 2007

Upton Way/High Way, Broadstone.

Appeal Ref: APP/Q1255/A/07/2039041

Introduction: The Clump is a significant mixed woodland area within a large residential area of Broadstone. The dominant tree species is Scots Pine. It forms an important element within Poole's green corridors and provides a home for numerous species including several that are protected. It provides a roosting area for a colony of bats.

The Clump was given to the Borough of Poole in the late 1920's to be used as a recreational facility for the town's residents. It has remained an important public amenity ever since. It is bounded by Upton Way and High Way and is on a significant pedestrian route for children attending Springdale First School.

As an amenity the Clump is greatly appreciated by local residents and the tree line is visible for considerable distances across Poole.

Establishing a need: Vodaphone have attempted to demonstrate a need for a mast in this locality through the presentation of a series of maps which purport to show a "reception hole" with The Clump at its centre. Vodaphone has a number of installations surrounding the locality including adjacent to the village's main roundabouts only a short distance away.

My own mobile phone is served by O2 and adjacent to The Clump receives full strength signals. This must therefore throw significant doubt upon Vodaphone's need for a mobile phone mast at this location. It also raises the issue of mast sharing.

Mast Sharing: it is understood that one of the prime factors in the determination of phone mast location is the requirement to share masts wherever possible. Since at least one other company can serve this area already without the need for a mast in The Clump it is logical to assume that if Vodaphone were to share O2's masts then this company would also be in the same position. There would be no need for Vodaphone to locate a mast in The Clump.

Effectiveness: the effectiveness of using The Clump as a location for a mobile phone mast has to be questioned. The height of the proposed mast is 15 metres. The main canopy of the trees in the Clump is higher than this and furthermore the density of growth is quite high. In deciding upon a suitable location for one of its mast in Broadstone T-Mobile dismisses several woodland sites because the height and density of trees would significantly interfere with signal transmission. The same argument must therefore apply to Vodaphone. One can only conclude that The Clump is not a suitable site.

Visual impact: the specific site chosen by Vodaphone places the mast in the most visible spot within The Clump. There would therefore be a significant impact upon the visual amenity of the area. The greatest impact would be upon those residents living directly opposite the site but for any one walking by or using The Clump then the visual impact would also be significant. Such an impact is sufficient in planning terms to justify refusal of permission.

The box like structure to the mast makes it an ideal design for mast sharing. The potential consequences of this need to be considered. As each new aerial is added to the mast then the height of the mast would increase significantly. It could be raised a further 8 metres thus taking it above the tree canopy. This would increase dramatically the visual impact as the mast would be visible right across Poole. Already one such mast exists at Corfe Hills School where the structure dominates the skyline and reduces completely the amenity value of the area. The only way to avoid such an impact at The Clump is not to allow the mast in the first place.

Environmental impact: access to the site and erection of the mast will inevitably impact upon the immediate site. The trees now have a tree preservation order upon them and this prohibits pruning of any branches without permission from the council. It is clear that some pruning would have to take place in order to erect the mast and this would therefore be contrary to the tree preservation order.

An excellent environmental report was submitted to the council's planning department by Dr P Mather as part of her initial objection to the original proposal. A copy of this should be forwarded by the council as part of its submission. Numerous questions are raised in relation to the possible impact of emissions from the mast upon the life cycles of some of the animals living within The Clump. This is particularly the case for the bats, a protected species. They should not be disturbed in any way and this also includes the pruning of branches which might be used for roosting.

Cautionary approach: whilst it is appreciated that health concerns are not a substantive element in the planning process, they are real as far as residents are concerned, especially while doubt remains as to the safety of transmissions. The site selected by Vodaphone is far too close to a number of residential properties and has consequently raised significant fears amongst the occupants of those properties.. In fairness to these residents a precautionary approach would be seen as the most appropriate option. Such an approach has been followed in a number of cases.

Conclusion: it is clear from the above that I am opposed to the siting of this mast within The Clump and would respectfully ask that you refuse the appeal submitted by Vodaphone.