Leitrim County Council blocks telecom mast expansion amid heritage concerns

Leitrim County Council has rejected a proposed telecommunications infrastructure project in Carrick-on-Shannon, amid public objections.

The rejected proposal aimed to upgrade and extend the existing telecommunications infrastructure to enhance performance and meet the demands of modern telecom services.

The proposed development sought modifications to the lattice support structure of an Eir mast in St George’s Terrace.

The applicant sought to extend the existing mast to a total height of 21 metres, including the addition of lightning finials. 

They also proposed the removal of the headframe at the top of the structure, which currently supports the antennas.

The modified tower would have been equipped with new antennas, dishes, and associated equipment, along with the addition of new equipment cabinets at ground level.

The planning application faced opposition by a group of environmental activists called Friends of the Irish Environment.

A letter sent to An Bord Pleanála by the group's solicitor stated: “Those masts, while relatively small in individual spatial extent, have a considerable spatial impact when considered in their totality. 

“Furthermore, in view of their general geographical location they have the potential to have significant effects on the environment, in the form of impacts on cultural heritage.

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“It is clear that the proposed development is located within the Carrick on Shannon Architectural Conservation Area, is in immediate proximity to a number of Protected Structures, including protected monuments such as the McCann Memorial and the Mausoleum in the attendant grounds of Hatley Manor. 

“The requirement of the Guidelines is therefore to avoid if possible locating telecoms masts in such an area,” the letter continued.

The group stated that the location of the mast is ‘totally inappropriate,’ and that the development would give rise to significant issues in relation to the protection of cultural heritage.

A third party objection was also submitted on behalf of Margaret Gannon, a resident of St George’s Terrace, explaining: “The subject proposal is to have a severe and detrimental impact upon the residential amenity of our client’s property and other residential properties within the vicinity of the site.”

The letter argued that the applicant’s reason for extending the telecommunications tower to 21 metres, based on the fact that a structure already exists on the site, is not enough to justify the expansion. They argue that this explanation ignores the potential impact on nearby homes and the local heritage.

“The application is non-compliant with the provisions of the Planning and Development Regulations and thus, should be invalidated. 

“The applicant has failed to carry out any or any appropriate assessment for the purposes of Council Directive 92/43/EEC, and so has failed to carry out a screening that complied with the requirements of the Habitats Directive,” the letter concluded.

In its decision, Leitrim Co Council outlined: "it is considered that the proposed increase in height of the resulting structure including the attachment of new antennas and dishes to same would result in a structure being visually obtrusive, discordant, overly dominant and out of character within an area of significant architectural and townscape quality". 

The council added that the increase in height: "would detract from the enjoyment and existing residential amenities of Hatley Manor, a Protected Structure, in residential use and of its restored outbuildings, also in residential use. Furthermore, it would materially detract from the setting, context and character of Hatley Manor, its restored outbuildings and of the glasshouse set within the landscaped walled garden.

"The proposed development would contravene a policy contained within the Leitrim County Development Plan, namely BH POL 1 which seeks to protect all structures in the Record of Protected Structures. The proposed development would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area".

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