Beware; A Mast!!

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A recent Planning Application submitted by Vodafone Ltd and Telefonica O2 UK Ltd has proved to be extremely concerning for local residents in Hersham Road; The Chestnuts and other roads in the immediate area of St Andrews United Reform Church.

The application number 2011/5544 is for the installation of a 12.5metre Telecoms mast and equipment cabinet directly outside the front wall of the church.

This link will take you straight to the application, plans and objections.

http://www3.elmbridge.gov.uk/WAM/showCaseFile.do?appName=planning&appNumber=2011/5544

The letter of representation by The Walton Society which objects to the siting of the mast be read below or as one of the letters of objection registered on the EBC website.

The Walton Society Letter of Representation is below:

6^th June 2011

Response to Planning Application 2011/5544

Dear Mr Stevens,

The Walton Society objects to the installation of a 12.5metre Telecoms mast and cabinet outside Saint Andrew’s United Reformed Church for two reasons. 

1. Visual impact on the street scene. The Church was built in the 1930’s  and the more recent extension to the Church Hall has been cleverly designed to complement the original building and so provide, with the landscaped grounds and low boundary wall, a most attractive site. The boundary is currently unimpeded with any street furniture. It is therefore most unfortunate that any organisation can consider proposing any form of development that would spoil this pleasant street scene, and should this application be allowed to go ahead future generations will inevitably ask why it was permitted. Our Chairman recently attended a Workshop on the Elmbridge Design and Character Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and following his report to the Society on this matter our attention has been focussed on future Guidelines for the Design and Character aspect of future Planning Applications. This current application is a clear example of exactly why such Guidelines are needed. It appears that at present ENV27 needs to be considered. “…in practice, the policy will not affect normal domestic extensions or redevelopment, but will only be applied in respect of development proposals such as high rise buildings, aerials and radio masts…” Though ENV27 may originally have been intended for larger scale views, we see no good reason as to why it should not be applied here. We are surprised to learn that it appears that discussions between the Applicant and the Planning Officers have either not taken place or have been very brief with the Applicant submitting the Application without allowing time for the considerations of the Officers to reach them. We also note that the Applicant has not fulfilled all the expected obligations in consulting the Community about this Application as set out in the Code of best Practice on Mobile Phone Network Development (ODPM). We also note that the Orange telecom mast sited further along this road near the Post Office is a disguised telegraph pole and is of a far more acceptable height. The double O2 mast outside the Garage near the railway bridge is more acceptable within it’s location, though the two cabinets servicing it are obtrusive. We note that this mast is 11metres high and that the proposed mast at St. Andrew’s is 1.5 metres higher and will therefore be completely out of place in this setting.
2. Possible Health issues. The Walton Society has been approached by several members concerned over the possible Health issues with this mast. We understand their concern but are appalled by the response of the Environmental Health Department to this application. This Department needs to be reminded that their role is to ensure the well-being of the people of this Borough and not just the interests of commercial organisations. Any application involving a Telecoms mast inevitably raises the question of Public Health and that the worry about this matter itself can cause Health problems, so this Department needs to play a far more positive role here. Their response to this application of writing “No” seven times on an email has led us to question both the purpose and the value of this Department. We would therefore like to see a further response from the Environmental Health Officers with a statement making it clear that they have studied all the details in the Application and that they are able to re-assure the Public that there are no health risks involved. Failure to produce such a statement should mean that the Planning Officers can only recommend refusal. As however it is clear that Saint Andrew’s Church and Hall are used by many groups in the Community and that a number of these involve young children on regular and prolonged visits, it would seem prudent to treat this site on the same basis as a School and therefore make it exempt from the nearby siting of Communication masts. Clearly if the Applicant had gone through the recommended procedure in the first place, then this information would have come to light prior to this application being submitted.

The Walton Society therefore objects to this Application. However, to avoid further controversy, and knowing that the location of these masts does not have to be as exact as street lamps, for example, we would like to suggest that this mast and accompanying equipment could be sited just over 100 yards away in the far corner of the little used public park area at the junction of Hersham Road and Stompond Lane. This would mean that it can be sited further away from housing than at the proposed site and that the existing trees would mean that it would not be visibly intrusive. It would also mean that the Council would receive an income that could be used to help towards the upkeep of the park area. We are aware that other sites were considered so it is therefore not essential that this mast has to be sited at this exact location.

Yours faithfully,

Andrew Reid

(Chairman Walton Society)

Gary Stevens, 

Planning Officer,

Elmbridge Borough Council.