Council officials to investigate grouping of communication masts

Trim area councillors have asked officials to look into the feasibility of finding one site in an industrial area for a telecommunications mast and requiring all operators to relocate their equipment there. The issue was raised by Cllr Trevor Golden who asked officials that if they found one site within an industrial estate, would it be feasible to ask 02, Vodafone and other operators to relocate their phone masts there. Trim area manager Kevin Stewart replied that he did not know and that it was not something he could not give a definitive answer on. He said they would need to find out whether a site would be available, that planning permission would be required and added he did not know if the councillors were suggesting it be free of charge but there would need to be a value for it. Cllr Golden asked if they could put in a planning stipulation that prohibits masts in residential areas by a certain date, provided they had an alternative site. 'It might be a bold decision but it would be a simple and straightforward solution,' said Cllr Golden. He added that people may be working in the industrial areas but that they would not be exposed 24 hours a day to potentially harmful emissions like people in residential areas. Cllr Peter Higgins said they had discussed the issue in the council several years ago, particularly in relation to north Meath. He said that, as far as he was aware, the going rate for landowners who have masts on their land is €15,000 per annum and that they could offer the rent for slightly less. 'If there were three or four operators on one mast, it would be handy income for the council and save a lot of problems,' he said. Cllr Higgins added that, instead of four or eight operators in a 10-mile radius, they could look at them all together. Mr Stewart said the officials would look into it. Cllr Seamus Murray said the history of operators is that they will provide masts in 'the most convenient and cheapest place'. He said that Eircom has a small sub-station in Ballivor and planning permission was granted for a mast eight metres from the window of a house, though they could have put it half a mile out the road, where there is a substantial site that could take the extra antennae. Cllr William Carey said: 'Even if Meath County Council refuses planning permission, An Bord Pleanala grant them and fire them out like confetti, no trouble at all.' Cllr Jimmy Fegan said approval for masts is temporary and he could see no reason why a planning authority would not have regard for that, if there was a possibility of rationalisation. 'With co-operation from public representatives and the planning authority, there surely has to be scope for rationalisation. Most are approved on a temporary basis and if we don"t like where they are located, they could be rationalised,' said Cllr Fegan. Cllr Golden said that all reports recommend that masts be located in industrial areas and that, if they are not available, then on rooftops.