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Planning and Building Control Directorate Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture First Floor, Murray House
Mount Havelock
Douglas
Isle of Man
IM1 2SF
18th October 2023
Dear Sir/Madam
Re: Planning application for the installation of 6 Telegraph Poles at Ballamillaghyn Estate, Mount Rule, Douglas, Isle of Man.
Please find below supporting information for consideration in relation to this application.
The National Broadband Plan (NBP), outlined in the Isle of Man's National Telecoms Strategy, sets out to deliver ultrafast fibre broadband (Fibre to the Premise - FTTP). Given the diversity of the Isle of Man's landscape and the remote nature of some of the properties, the Isle of Man Government recognised that delivery of fibre broadband to these areas would be commercially unviable and that funding should be made available to ensure that properties in nine intervention zones would have access to the service.
On publication of the National Telecom Strategy, the then Chief Minister stated:
"Superfast Broadband is not a nice to have, it is a must for business, for Government – for all of us. Government has a role to play in enabling this for everyone".
The following reports, the Chief Ministers Committee Report on National Telecommunications infrastructure (https://www.tynwald.org.im/spfile?file=/business/opqp/sittings/Tynwald%2020162018/2018-GD-0019.pdf) and the Tynwald Approved Department for Enterprise National Telecommunications Strategy (https://www.tynwald.org.im/spfile?file=/business/opqp/sittings/20182021/2018-GD-0062.pdf)
both considered that high speed and high-quality telecommunication networks are universally agreed to be vital for the betterment of society and the economy. Both reports considered that such networks form part of the Island Critical National Infrastructure. The COVID-19 pandemic illustrated the necessity for high speed and high-quality communication networks right across the Island when working from home.
The National Broadband Plan then started 1st July 2020, with Manx Telecom, chosen as the preferred supplier. As part of the Economic Recovery Fund that was announced by Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan MHK, the National Broadband Plan was accelerated from 5 years to 4 years as part of the of many initiatives to be supported under the Economic Recovery Fund.
The fibre network is designed and delivered from 6 mains hubs across the Island. As the fibre travels out from the hubs in large fibre count cables, it is spliced off into smaller cables along pre-planned routes to reach the intended premises. A splitter is then added to allow multiple properties in the location to connect to the network to maximise the use of the fibre cable.
The distribution of the network can be deployed both above and below ground. Where there is existing underground or overhead infrastructure, this will always be used to install fibre. Above ground fibre is distributed using Manx Telecom's or Manx Utility Authority Electricity poles where available. Manx Telecom and Manx Utility Authority have developed a shared user agreement for this purpose.
On occasion where there is no existing underground ducted or overhead infrastructure, then new telegraph poles are the preferred delivery method.
Ballamillaghyn Estate does not have sufficient existing underground ducting to use and therefore to make fibre available to the estate, the installation of 6 telegraph poles is required.
In preparation for the application to be submitted, we have shared the plans and informed the following parties:
The application is to install 6 x 9-metre wooden telegraph poles with associated overhead wires.
All six poles have been included in this application as all poles will be required to provide an overhead fibre service to the properties.
The six poles need to be considered as one application, as any amendments or the rejection of a single pole would require a full re-design of all pole locations.
Please refer to MT Ref 2023P-0-0 for pole information, heights, and depths.
Installation site locations/addresses:
Installation of the telegraph poles will allow the premises to become “Passed” and allow property owners to place orders with their chosen service provider. Overhead wires that are required to span between poles are referred to as network cables and these will be installed at the same time as the telegraph poles.
Once a property owner has placed an order with their chosen service provider, a Drop cable will then be installed between the serving pole and the property, in agreement with the property owner. This would now become a property “Connected.”
Premises to be connected to the new telegraph pole are Property numbers 1 - 29 Ballamillaghyn Estate.
Manx Telecom already has over 2500 wooden poles on the island. Installing new wooden telegraph poles is industry standard and offers many benefits, including:
In terms of the location and siting of the poles, we have referenced the UK Cabinet Siting and Pole Siting Code of Practice throughout the design process.
(https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5ab22eda40f0b65bb8ef1df9/Revised_Cabinet_and_Pole_Siting_COP_Nov_16.pdf)
The proposed pole locations have been carefully selected following detailed on-site surveys and where possible, positioned close to the boundary between the two properties.
The proposed poles have also been located to ensure that Manx Telecom is able to maintain and inspect the pole, while also allowing safe access including ladder positioning for pole Climbing by ensuring there are no climbing hazards for engineers.
When designing an overhead network, there are several factors that must be considered and adhered to. Pole positions have been proposed so we can conform to current regulations and internal safety requirements, which include the following:
(a) Overhead wires must not at any point in the course of passing over land be less than 3 metres above the ground or within 2 metres of any building over which they pass.
(a) A wire must have a minimum road clearance of 5.5m. measured at the centre of the road. (b) A wire has a maximum overhead span length of 68m.
| Reference | Document Title |
|---|---|
| 2023P-0-0 | Wooden Pole Measurements and Furniture |
| 2023P-1-1 | Site Location @ 1:900 |
| 2023P-1-2 | Cable Distribution |
| 2023P-1-3 | Pole 1 – Site Plan |
| 2023P-1-4 | Pole 1 – Aerial View |
| 2023P-1-5 | Pole 1 – Artist Impression |
| 2023P-1-6 | Pole 2 – Site Plan |
| 2023P-1-7 | Pole 2 – Aerial View |
| 2023P-1-8 | Pole 2 – Artist Impression |
| 2023P-1-9 | Pole 3 – Site Plan |
| 2023P-1-10 | Pole 3 – Aerial View |
| 2023P-1-11 | Pole 3 – Artist Impression |
| 2023P-1-12 | Pole 4 – Site Plan |
| 2023P-1-13 | Pole 4 – Aerial View |
| 2023P-1-14 | Pole 4 – Artist Impression |
| 2023P-1-15 | Pole 5 – Site Plan |
| 2023P-1-16 | Pole 5 – Aerial View |
| 2023P-1-17 | Pole 5 – Artist Impression |
| 2023P-1-18 | Pole 6 – Site Plan |
| 2023P-1-19 | Pole 6 – Aerial View |
| 2023P-1-20 | Pole 6 – Artist Impression |
Manx Telecom Planning [email protected]
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