Outrage after Briggs phone mast ban is overturned
A DECISION to pull the plug on a mobile phone mast in Bishopbriggs has been overturned.
East Dunbartonshire Council’s planning board rejected an application by Vodafone to locate a 14.8m mast on the corner of Angus Avenue and Wester Cleddens Road, in Bishopbriggs, on May 16 last year.
But Vodafone successfully appealed to the Scottish Government Reporter who overturned the decision.
The council’s reasons for refusal - including the proximity to a primary school, secondary school and nursery - were held to be inadequate by the Reporter.
East Dunbartonshire Council’s head of development and enterprise, Thomas Glen, explained: “The Reporter considered that the site chosen was in their opinion the best available in the area and that the adverse environmental impact was outbalanced by the importance of high quality telecommunications facilities.”
At the council’s development and infrastructure committee meeting last week, it was unanimously decided to write to the Scottish Government in protest at the decision.
Campsie and Kirkintilloch North councillor Charles Kennedy said: “Why do we even have a development plan if it can just be overruled because it’s ‘the best site there is’?
“I can’t believe there isn’t something we can do about this.”
Bishopbriggs South councillor Alan Moir added: “This suggests that we have a gun to our heads when it comes to a planning application of this kind.
“It seems the barn door has been blown open and any application is fair game.
“Our representation was first class but it was swept aside by the Reporter.”
And Provost Eric Gotts also joined the calls of protest.
He said: “My concern is that the Reporter seems to be saying that national requirements take precedent over local concerns. The main ground we had for the rejection was amenity protection and this was ignored.”
The meeting came days after Vodaphone made another application for a mobile phone mast - this time at 31 Glasgow Road, Kirkintilloch.
It will be considered at a meeting of the planning board later this year.
* Have you got a comment or a story? E-mail kirkyherald@jnscotland.co.uk
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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Comments
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Briggs Resident
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 08:59 PMIt's a shame the Herald writer can't spell the name of the network consistently, and refers to 'pull the plug' when in fact, quite the opposite is happening. Vodafone coverage in the area needs a much saught-after boost - they complaints that it is 'near a school' has been used countelss times and yet, after 25 years, we've not had a single measurable incident. Better yet, Bishopbriggs now has a massive mast on the Railway Line installed by Network Rail for their train communications and signalling - no problem, it went up and what an eyesore. Cadder has no service from Orange or T-Mobile despite constant complaints from residents - but the whole point of the Scottish Reporter is to provide an appeal process, are complainants suggesting there shouldn;t be any, as it might affect their decision? I went to the Scottish Reporter to complain about a Council planning issue that was perverse - the Council lost. It wasn't the first time, and certainly wasn't the last. The new mast will provide coverage for the new Briggs bypass, so well done Vodafone - good luck with the next application.
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