Independent Councillor Terry O’Flaherty has urged Galway City Council to take steps to let local people know when an application is made for the erection of telecommunications equipment in their area.
Following controversies over such moves in Renmore, Knocknacarra, Ballybane and Dangan so far this year, she said that legislation should also be changed to allow for public consultation on planned mobile phone poles and masts.
“People should be made aware of such structures being planned for their area – but currently there is no legal requirement on councils to notify the public via site or newspaper notices, nor is there a provision to accept public submissions on such applications which in my opinion beggars’ belief.
“I made the Renmore Residents Association aware of this which was listed under 254 licensing as I felt people living in Elm Park in Renmore/Fushia Drive/ Park should become aware of an application being lodged for an 18 metres high telecommunications mast or pole in their area.
“The first that residents in Carragh Hill, Knocknacarra, knew anything about an 18 metres high mast in their area was when the contractors arrived at the location to start the works, sparking the current wave of protest action.”
So far this year, there have been three licences granted for the erection of telecommunications masts in the city, with the Carragh Hill/Drive approval in April for Vantage Towers; Emerald Tower Ltd securing the go-ahead in May for another 18m pole on the N59 road in Dangan; and Phoenix Tower International, being approved for a 15m street pole at Castlepark Road, Ballybane, the same month.
The latest application, lodged earlier this month by Shared Access Ltd, is for the installation of a 15m mast on the western side of Elm Park, at its junction with Fuschia Drive, which will be used by the Three mobile phone network – the application says that this area of the city currently suffers from “a poor level of service provision”.
“We really need a change in the law so that the same planning rules apply to telecommunications masts as any other structure, but in the meantime Galway City Council should take steps to let people know what is going on in their area, even if they are not legally obliged to.
“At a minimum, a notice should be erected where such a mast or pole is planned for the area of the city, we need to get the message out and stop causing upset to local people who feel frustrated that they have no say in these matters,” she added.
Objectors currently have an option of appealing a decision to grant a Section 254 Licence to Erect a Telecommunications Structure to An Coimisiún Pleanála.
Currently Section 254 License is under consideration by Galway City Council. A decision may be appealed to An Coimisiún Pleanála once Galway City Council has concluded its decision on the matter. Further information on making an appeal via the link on their website.
