Loading document...
| Type of Structure: | ||
| Description: | ||
| The proposal involves the installation of a 15 metre high slimline monopole accommodating 3No antennas, 2No equipment cabinets, 1No electrical meter cabinet and ancillary works within a compound surrounded by a 1.8m high chainlink fence on land in field number 424828, Adjacent To Colby Football Club, Colby, Isle of Man (NGR: 223235E, 469820N). The proposed monopole is a shareable structure and would be physically capable of accommodating the antennas of an additional operator in the future. | ||
| Overall Height: | 15 Metres | |
| Height of existing building: | n/a Metres | |
| Equipment Housing (x2): | ||
| Length: | 1.35 Metres | |
| Width: | 0.975 Metres | |
| Height: | 1.5 Metres | |
| Materials: |
Airport Director Consultation (only required for an application for prior approval) {{table:54429}} Developer's Notice {{table:54430}}
| Copy of Developer's Notice enclosed? | Yes | No |
| Date served: | 19 October 2012 |
| The proposed site: |
| The proposed site is located on a field boundary at the southern edge of Colby. Colby Football Club has recently relocated to land east of the proposed site. The New Colby Football Ground accommodates a Clubhouse building, football pitches including an Astroturf pitch which is surrounded by 15 metre high floodlighting columns. The Manx Railway runs along the southern boundary of the town, approximately 70 metres north of the proposed site which is subject of this application. The land to the south and west of the proposed site is rural farmland. The settlement of Colby and the land to the south of Colby is relatively flat; however the land begins to rise to the north of the settlement. No residential properties would have direct views of the proposed installation and the nearest dwelling is located at a distance of approximately 100 metres from the proposed site. The proposed site would be located immediately adjacent to a hedgerow of approximately 3 metres in height which will provide effective low level screening to the ground based equipment and lower section of the proposed pole. |
¹ Macro or Micro
| Tower/mast etc – type of material and external colour: | The pole would be unpainted galvanised steel unless otherwise requested. If it would be considered beneficial in terms of minimising visual impact, it would be possible to paint the proposed pole. Given the rural location of the proposed site, it is considered that either a dark green or dark brown colour would be appropriate. |
| Equipment housing – type of material and external colour: | Galvanised steel construction painted Dark Green (RAL6009) unless otherwise requested. |
| ICNIRP Declaration attached ICNIRP public compliance is determined by mathematical calculation and implemented by careful location of antennas, access restrictions and/or barriers and signage as necessary. Members of the public cannot unknowingly enter areas close to the antennas where exposure may exceed the relevant guidelines. | Yes | No |
| Frequency: | Frequency: 3G (TX) - 2110.3 - 2120.3Mhz |
| Modulation characteristics² | Modulation: 3G: QPSK + 16 QAM |
| Power output (expressed in EIRP in dBm per carrier) | 61.3 |
| Height to underside of antennas (metres above ground level) | 12.9 metres |
A thorough search of the area confirmed that there are no existing telecommunications installations, other available structures or suitable buildings for the installation of the equipment required to improve the level of mobile coverage to Manx Telecom customers in the Colby area. On that basis, the search moved on to locating a suitable site for a ground based mast. The proposed site, which is subject of this application, is considered to be the most appropriate site in the area for a ground based mast in terms of providing the required level of coverage to the surrounding area, having a willing site provider and minimising impact on the character and visual amenity of the area.
As highlighted in the Code of Best Practice, it was considered that a simple, slimline pole would be the most suitable design in terms of minimising visual impact on the surrounding area. It is considered that the simple pole design would not dominate the landscape and would quickly become an accepted feature in the locality. The proposed pole would also benefit from being viewed in the context of the existing 15 metre high floodlighting columns on the adjacent football ground and the poles associated with the railway.
The overall height of the proposed column at 15 metres to top has been kept to its technical minimum so as to allow for adequate coverage to the target area whilst the dimensions of the monopole structure are the thinnest available so as to be able to support the required antennas. The proposed pole is also sharable and could physically accommodate the antennas of an additional operator. Furthermore it is considered that in opting to connect the site into the wider network via an underground link rather than rely on a transmission dish, this has simplified the design and hence reduced the proposal's prominence in the landscape. If it was considered beneficial in terms of minimising visual impact on the surrounding landscape, the applicant would be willing to paint the proposed equipment in a colour to be agreed with the DOI.
Overall, it is considered that the proposed installation will not introduce an alien feature into the landscape due to the location adjacent to the Colby Football Club, Manx Railway and the associated infrastructure.
² The modulation method employed in GSM is GMSK (Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying) which is a form of Phase modulation The modulation method employed in UMTS is QPSK (Quad Phase Shift Keying) which is another form of Phase Modulation
| Map Ref: | Site Location | Reasons for discounting in terms of planning, acquisition and coverage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old Colby Football Club Colby | This land was discounted as an option for the installation of telecommunications equipment because it is subject of a residential redevelopment. |
| 2 | New Colby Football Club Colby | The possibility of installing telecommunications equipment onto the floodlights at the new football ground was considered but discounted as we understand that there is a restrictive covenant which exists on the land. The covenant specifies that the land can only be used for recreational purposes. On that basis, it is not therefore possible to install equipment associated with a telecommunications network on this land. |
Enclose predictive coverage plots.
Reason(s) why site required e.g. coverage, upgrade, capacity (map attached if required):
In order to improve the level of service that Manx Telecom provides for their customers, they are constantly developing their network, as well as refining and modernising their equipment. The dynamic nature of technological advances in the telecommunications industry, coupled with the demands from subscribers to provide new and better quality services, dictates a continual reinvestment programme in the infrastructure behind the use of mobile devices. Manx Telecom are currently involved in developing new sites to provide coverage to areas which have not benefited from access to the full services they offer and to areas of their existing network where increased capacity or improved service quality is required.
Many more people now use mobile devices for personal and business purposes and to a large proportion of the population; the use of a mobile phone is now considered an essential part of people's everyday lives both at work and in their leisure time. These customers legitimately demand and expect to have adequate signal coverage and capacity for their mobile devices throughout the island.
However it remains the case that some areas of the island still do not benefit from access to the services associated with a 3G mobile communications network. The enclosed coverage plots illustrate that the majority of Colby only benefits from an outdoor level of 3G coverage (shown in yellow). This means that Manx Telecom customers would have difficulties using 3G mobile services in buildings in the area. The proposal which is subject of this application would provide high quality in-building 3G coverage (shown in blue) to Manx Telecom customers in Colby and the surrounding area.
The search area is illustrated on the aerial map showing the location of the proposed site and discounted sites. There are no existing telecommunications sites, buildings or available structures which would be suitable for the installation of the proposed equipment. On that basis, a suitable location for the installation of a ground based structure was sought. A large part of Colby is included within a Conservation Area and it was therefore considered that a site outwith the town would be preferable in terms of minimising impact on the character and appearance of the area. The following table provides details of alternative sites that were considered and discounted prior to progressing with the site which is subject of this application (the locations are plotted on the aerial photo below):
The following aerial photo shows the location of the proposed site and the alternative sites that have been discounted in relation to the search area which is shown as a red circle:
Additional relevant information:
It is recognised by many that telecommunication networks are a core infrastructure asset for any modern economy and local authorities need to plan positively for their installation and long term use.
Infrastructure Policy 3 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan (Adopted 2007) deals specifically with communications systems and states:
'A balance must be struck between the need for new, evolving communications systems to satisfy residential and business demand and the impact that the necessary infrastructure will have upon the environment. Measures which may help to achieve a satisfactory balance will include a presumption against visually intrusive masts in sensitive landscapes, the encouragement of mast sharing by different operators, and the removal of redundant infrastructure. Exceptions to this policy would need to demonstrate a strategic national need, which cannot be otherwise secured by mast sharing or alternative locations.'
In accordance with Infrastructure Policy 3, the proposed installation subject of this application has been designed to minimise impact on the surrounding landscape. The slimline monopole structure has been selected for the proposed location in order to minimise contrast with the existing landscape which includes the power line support
poles associated with the railway and the floodlights at the New Colby Football ground. While we accept that the installation will be visible from certain viewpoints in the surrounding area, it is considered that the sensitive design along with the importance of providing mobile communications coverage to the area ensure that a good balance is struck between the need for evolving communications systems and minimising impact on the environment.
Irrespective of the installation's use as a telecommunications base station, it should be appreciated that the introduction of a new item of telecommunications infrastructure will always be, to some degree, a noticeable addition within the public realm. However it should be recognised that visibility does not automatically result in an overwhelming adverse harm occurring. This is argued in this case whereby the siting of the proposed installation within the constraints of the immediate and wider setting of the search area, coupled with the technical limitations towards the scheme's design aesthetics, should be borne into consideration when assessing the proposal.
As detailed in Section 6 of this statement, there are no opportunities for mast or site sharing within the search area and there are no suitable buildings or other structures available for the installation of the equipment. On that basis a search was undertaken in order to locate a suitable site for a ground based structure which would meet the operational coverage requirement in the surrounding area, be acceptable in terms of minimising visual impact on the surrounding area and having a willing site provider. The proposed site, which is located on land to the south of Colby meets the technical coverage requirements, while also having a willing site provider and being acceptable in planning terms. While the proposed installation, subject of this application, will only accommodate equipment for Manx Telecom, the structure is designed to be capable of supporting the antennas of an additional operator.
In accordance with Infrastructure Policy 3, we can confirm that Manx Telecom would remove any equipment that becomes redundant in the future.
Overall, it is considered that the careful siting and design of the proposal which would not constitute a 'visually intrusive mast within a sensitive landscape' ensures that there will be no significant impact on the character and visual amenity of the surrounding area and that the proposal subject of this application complies with all the requirements of Infrastructure Policy 3 of the Strategic Plan.
As detailed in the Code of Best Practice, the options available to operators can be affected by site conditions, technical constraints, landscape features and capacity requirements. The main options available are mast/site sharing, installations on existing buildings and structures, camouflaging equipment, using small scale equipment and erecting new ground based masts.
As there were no suitable existing telecommunications structures or other buildings available for the installation of telecommunications equipment within the search area, the search progressed to finding a suitable site for a ground based installation. Various sites were considered, however it was concluded that the site adjacent to the new Colby Football Club would be the preferred option in terms of minimising impact on the surrounding area and alleviating the issues associated with the existing coverage deficiency.
As confirmed in the Code of Best Practice, using simple and unfussy designs can significantly reduce the impact of an installation on the surrounding area. As you are aware, the proposed installation subject of this application involves the installation of a 15m high slimline monopole and ancillary equipment which will be viewed in the context of the adjacent floodlighting columns and railway infrastructure. On the basis of the above information, we are of the opinion that the proposed installation, subject of this application, complies with the requirements in the Code of Best Practice.
The issue of health and safety concerns regarding telecommunications apparatus has been the subject of recent media coverage within the UK. As you may be aware, an Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (IEGMP) undertook thorough and in-going research with regard to the health effects of phones and base stations. The research found that:
'...the balance of the evidence does not suggest that mobile phone technologies put the health of the general population at risk.'
Court cases and appeals in the UK have established that health concerns are not a sufficient basis alone for withholding planning permission, notwithstanding any view the Authority may have adopted about current research in this field, providing it has been demonstrated that the proposed installation will comply with the ICNIRP
guidelines.
The proposal, which is the subject of this application, is designed to be ICNIRP compliant as demonstrated by the ICNIRP certificate included with this application.
Contact Details
| Name: (Agent) | Mono Consultants Limited | Telephone: | 0141 270 2733 |
| Operator: | Manx Telecom Limited | Fax no: | 0141 566 6661 |
| Address: | Mono Consultants Limited 48 St Vincent St Glasgow G2 5TS | Email: | [email protected] |
| Signed: | Mono Consultants Limited | Date: | 22 October 2012 |
Copyright in submitted documents remains with their authors. Request removal
