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Planning Applicaication Support Statement West Kimmeragh
TELECOMMUNICATIONS INSTALLATION FOR CABLE \& WIRELESS ISLE OF MAN LIMITED
AT
West Kimmeragh Farm Bride IM7 4BA
Planning Application Supporting Statement
DATE: 27th March 2008 PREPARED BY: Steven Allan Cable \& Wireless
Cable \& Wireless IOM REF: site 120 West Kimmeragh
Cable and Wireless Isle of Man Limited (C\&W) has recently been awarded an Isle of Man (IOM) Mobile Operators License, issued by the Island's Communications Commission, to provide a mobile phone network and services to the island's inhabitants and visitors. This service will compete with the incumbent operator (Manx Telecom) and will allow greater choice and competition for the consumers.
The Mobile phone network consists of a number of sites that have a combination of equipment, such as panel antenna, that provide coverage in the vicinity and also transmission dishes that link sites together. Combined with other sites they are designed to provide a wider continuous network: this intern provides coverage throughout the Island. will endeavour, when ever possible, to install their equipment on existing infrastructure or radio transmitters. The aim always is to minimise the visual impact of providing this new mobile phone network.
Where this is not possible and it is necessary to introduce the additional telecommunications infrastructure onto the Island this supporting statement will justify, both why the infrastructure is required and demonstrate that the pest possible available site has been identified, keeping visual amenity as a priority at all times.
It will also help to explain the decisions which led to the specific location being chosen and what alternatives were discounted.
A variety of supporting information may be included with each application but ultimately the aim is to minimise the number of new structures and reduce the visual impact of the network; whilst providing sufficient signal strength to provide coverage for customers to take advantage of the services that will become available.
The proposed development will consist of 1 GSM panel antennas, mounted on an existing wooden Mast. All electrical equipment will be housed inside the existing building. This site has been carefully chosen use existing infrastructure and to provide an infill site as the local topography does not permit radio propagation in to the Andreas village area from existing or proposed sites in the area.
The proposed site is located on the West Kimmeragh hills at OS grid NX 440005. The surrounding area is agricultural. The location of the site has been strategically considered to provide optimal coverage over the village of Andreas. This area currently has very low signal levels from the Cable \& Wireless network.
Whilst the site provides good coverage to the target area it has also been chosen from a visual amenity perspective as the proposed installation is to be located on an existing wooden mast.
With in the search area this is the optimum location for a Mobile Phone cell site. Cable \& Wireless have planning permission to develop a cell site in the area of Andreas airfield; however this proposed site would negate the requirement for this development. In our opinion given the environmental and visual impact of the development of a new site we do not feel it appropriate in this instance and would prefer the less intrusive development proposed in this application.
As a result we feel that this is the most obvious choice of site location.
We have met with Mr Ian Brooks to discuss this proposal; Mr Brooks accepted the need for a site in this area and was supportive of the concept of utilising the existing structure over the development of a new site.
I know of no relevant planning history in this area.
We have received a number of complaints about our coverage in the Andreas Village, after through investigation of these complaints we believe the only solution to this problem is the addition, to our network. However we do not feel that the development of a new site is justified when a suitable structure exists with in a kilometre of the already approved site location. We do feel that minor development of an existing communications site is more appropriate in this instance.
If this location is not supported there will still be a need for a site in this area, and we feel the very best location has already been identified by way of this application. Without approval for this site we would have little option other than the development of a 17 meter monopole mast with associated cabin for which we already have planning permission.
The accompanying coverage plots provide good evidence of the coverage this site would provides and how it fits in the other proposed sites in the wider network. Finally the existence of a Manx Telecom site close by also provides good evidence of the need for coverage in this area.
In selecting this site the upmost care has been taken to reduce its visual impact. As the selected, proposed, location is an existing wooden mast and rendered hut the visual impact will be minimal. All equipment cabinets would he housed inside the existing hut with only the addition of a GSM panel antenna to the mast and tray work to support the RF feeder cables being visible. As a result, we feel that this is the most obvious choice of location for a site in this area.
Cable \& Wireless would be re-using existing infrastructure as apposed to the development of a new cell site and as such feel this will have significantly less visual impact than the development of a new site at Andreas airfield.
The proposed site does not have a specific or restrictive designation under the 1982 Development Plan, nor does it fall within an area of restricted building height due to Air Safety.
This site has been designed in accordance with the current mainland UK Cellular operator's guidance for both Occupational \& Public ICNIRP compliance. Our design consultants are satisfied that this site design complies with the above guidelines and therefore a signed ICNIRP certificate is enclosed with this application.
1) Isle of Man Government Statutory Boards, Offices \& Agencies Plans 2006-2009. Volume 3 .
Page 25 under Communications Commission Aims \& Objectives Section: Objective: Social inclusion - to enhance access to services for the whole population: "We will enforce universal service obligations by telecoms operators with significant market power. They must provide telephone services throughout the Island," 2) Isle of Man Government Statutory Boards< Offices \& Agencies Plans 2005-2008. Volume 3 Page 20, under Communications Commission Aims \& Objectives Section. Objective; The built Environment -,to reduce the visual impact of telecommunications and radio infrastructure on the Island's landscape. "We will encourage increased mast sharing by broadcasters, under the Radio Masts Regulation Act Limitations". 3) The Town and Country Planning Act 1999.
Page 101"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."
Cable and Wireless believe the installation complies with the Islands Policies above.
To summarise, we consider that this is the optimum location and design for our proposed site.
The coverage plots help to demonstrate that there is a definite need of the site in this area. The siting and appearance has been carefully considered to best utilise the existing masts and equipment huts. The addition of antenna and mast to the existing structure, when viewed on the skyline, will be insignificant.
Therefore the design proposed represents both the optimum planning/environmental and technical solution in this instance. As such, we believe the development as proposed is in accordance with planning guidance as defined above, in that we would be re-using an existing mast.
Should this proposal be deemed acceptable Cable \& Wireless will be happy to make a formal commitment not to develop the already approved site at Andreas airfield.
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