Cllr"s radio mast 'does not have planning permission"

A mast in a local councillor"s back garden in Trim does not have planning permission, it emerged at a meeting of the local town council last week. Cllr Phil Cantwell told last week"s meeting of the council that the mast at the rear of his house at Manorlands was a licenced ham (amateur) radio mast, was on his own property, going back over 40 years, and was his own business. Cllr Cantwell"s mast does not have planning permission but, as it is in situ for more than five years, it would come under a retention application. The mast was featured on a list of five masts in the town council area requested by councillors at the December meeting of the council, following a debate on the number of communications structures in the town, and their planning status. The debate arose as a result of opposition to a Chorus mast at Mornington Green. Cllr Danny O"Brien questioned Cllr Cantwell on whether there were any 'gadgets' on his mast or if any radiation coming from it. There are three other telecommunications masts in the town, one at the Garda Station at Castle Street; one at the Eircom Exchange, also Castle Street, and one at Trimproof. The cable and TV transmitter at Mornington Green is on land owned by Meath County Council and is operated by Oliver Sheerin and Chorus. A planning application has been submitted for its retention. Councillors agreed to place the minutes of last Tuesday night"s meeting, at which they voiced their opposition to the mast, as a submission on the planning file for the manager to consider when making a decision. Cllr O"Brien and Cllr Ray Butler said it was scandalous that there is currently no planning permission in place for a mast which is on Meath County Council land, for which the council does not seem to be getting any rent. Councillors also agreed to send two members - Vincent McHugh and Jimmy Peppard - to London at the invitation of the Meath Association of London for St Patrick"s Day. Cllr Gerry Reilly said it should be pointed out that the council was not 'junketeering" but recognising the work being done by the Meath Association in London looking after the wellbeing of lots of people from Meath who are working and studying in the UK capital, who may not otherwise have a network of support. It was also agreed to make an allocation of €3,000 to the Trim St Patrick"s Day Parade Committee.