Another phone mast upgrade planned

Vodafone are planning to upgrade the phone mast on Park Lane, at the junction with Clyde Road. As with the Badminton Road upgrade we reported last week, this is not a full planning application. The council cannot stop them installing the new mast but can comment on its position and design. Pat Hockey has talked to the immediate neighbours about the plans. You can comment on the South Glos website by going to the Simple Search page and searching for PT14/1851/PN1. The deadline for comments is Monday 9th June.

Badminton Road phone mast to be upgraded

Vodafone have notified South Glos that they are going to replace the Badminton Road phone mast with a 4G one a few metres away and install three new cabinets. This is not a full planning application and the council cannot stop them installing the new mast but can comment on its position and design. Claire Young knocked on doors of those closest to the site and fed back comments to Vodafone. You can comment on the South Glos website by going to the Simple Search page and searching for PK14/1841/PN1. The deadline for comments is Monday 9th June.

Phone mast - deadline for comments 2 September

Don't forget that if you wish to comment on the proposed O2 phone mast, the deadline for comments is 2 September.

New phone mast application off Park Lane

O2 are proposing to erect a phone mast on land off Park Lane, Frampton Cotterell. You can view the application details on the South Glos website.

Vodafone win appeal

Sadly Vodafone have won their appeal against the planning committee's decision to object to their plans to erect a phone mast near the junction of Woodside Road and Badminton Road.

On the effect on the street scene, the inspector says:

“Inevitably, any utilitarian roadside structures such of[sic] those proposed will detract from the street scene, adding visual clutter, but in my view the effect on the character and appearance of the area would not be at all serious.”

On residential amenity he says:

“...it seems to me that the public perception of the effect of the pole on amenity is strongly influenced by what it would represent, and concern about possible health effects, rather than its likely appearance.”

He found no reason to doubt the need for the mast and was satisfied that Vodafone had undertaken a sufficiently thorough assessment of alternative sites. With regard to the health concerns, he noted that the proposed mast would meet ICNIRP Guidelines and “found nothing specific to this case that would justify taking a different approach to health considerations.”

This decision, which you can read in full online, means that Vodafone now have approval to erect the mast as proposed.

Phone mast appeal - how to comment online

All the original objections will be passed on to the planning inspector considering the Badminton Road phone mast appeal, but you can also make additional comments or comment if you didn't first time round. To do this online, go to the case summary, click on the link under "Documents" and then click on "Comment on this case". Fill in the form and submit it.

To find out more about the appeal process, try these links:

Helpful guidelines from the Planning Portal

Advice notes on electronic submissions

More advice from the Planning Inspectorate

Phone mast - the appeal process

The Planning Inspectorate have now written to South Gloucestershire Council about the phone mast appeal. You can see the letter on the website.

The Council has until 3 April to write to all those who made comments on the original application informing them of the appeal. Comments made before will be forwarded on but if you want to make additional comments you should send three copies to the Inspectorate by 1 May 2008.

Phone mast appeal

Many people are asking what is happening with the phone mast appeal. Claire Young has discussed it with the Case Officer, who assures her that when the Planning Inspectorate notifies the Council of the appeal, the Council will write to all objectors for whom they have addresses.

The appeal will be decided by written representations. That means that rather than holding a public inquiry, the Planning Inspector will consider written submissions from the applicant, the Council and objectors. All the original comments will be forwarded on but you can send the Inspector further comments if you wish. Details of where to send them will be on the letters that go out.

On a related subject, those who attended the public meeting may recall that the meeting called on South Gloucestershire Council to take a co-ordinated approach to mobile phone mast applications. Claire Young raised this issue in a question to the Cabinet Member responsible for planning at January's meeting of full Council. You can read the question, supplementary question and responses starting on page 10 of the minutes.

Phone mast battle continues as Vodafone appeal

At the end of January, the planning committee voted to object to Vodafone's plans to erect a 3G phone mast beside the Badminton Road in Coalpit Heath. Sadly Vodafone have now appealed. Claire Young has not yet received official notification of this but the documents can be viewed on the South Glos website.

Phone mast - good news!

The planning committee agreed with local residents and voted overwhelmingly to object to a mast being erected where Vodafone proposed, beside Badminton Road near the junction with Woodside Road. Many thanks to all who have campaigned so hard for this, especially to those who carried out the petition, delivered leaflets telling people about the proposals or who spoke for the residents at the committee meeting.

Now we will have to wait and see what Vodafone's next move will be.

This Thursday is decision day for mast application

The fate of Vodafone’s application to erect a 12m 3G mobile phone mast beside Badminton Road in Coalpit Heath will be decided when the planning committee meets on Thursday (31st).

Members of the public can attend the Development Control (West) Committee meeting, which will start at 3pm in Thornbury Council Offices. You can view the agenda online. As you can see, this will be the first application to be considered, the previous item being simply noted.

There is limited parking at the offices but there are free public car parks nearby in the town centre.

Local residents will present a petition to members of the committee and urge them to object to the siting of the mast just metres from neighbouring houses. Claire Young will also have a say as the local Councillor.

Vodafone have informed Claire that they are still considering alternative sites but are letting this application take its course.

Phone mast - what next?

Unless Vodafone find an alternative site and withdraw the Badminton Road application, a decision will be made by the planning committee, DC (West), on Thursday 31 January. The public are very welcome to attend this meeting, which will start at 3pm in Thornbury. Usually if people have turned up to comment on items they will be dealt with early in the meeting.

In the meantime, our local MP, Steve Webb, has written in support of residents to both Vodafone and the Council.

More from Wednesday's drop-in

You may have seen the coverage of Wednesday's Vodafone drop-in in the online version of the Gazette.

Here are the answers to some of the questions that came up at the session:

• When asked if the fact they could put the mast on the land rent-free was a factor in the choice of site, they said Vodafone would be spending more on putting in a telegraph pole style mast than their standard 12m mast so it wasn't a cheap option.


• The tri-sector antennae will broadcast in all directions, not just one.


• Their website shows the outdoor coverage. The aim of the proposed mast is to improve the level of indoor coverage, hence the apparent difference between what their website says about coverage and what they say in the planning application


• The coverage plots are all theoretical rather than measured


• Coverage is calculated by taking the contours, type of land usage, antennae details etc and overlaying them.


• The power output of the mast varies depending on the number of users using it, but the limit is 20W and it's very rare that it will operate at that level


• The site is next to the highway so they are confident they do not need to do a mining search

Glimmer of hope in phone mast battle

Vodafone have promised to look again at alternatives to erecting a mast on the Badminton Road in Coalpit Heath after a busy drop-in session in the Manor Hall yesterday.

Throughout the afternoon, local people arrived to voice their concerns to the company’s representatives. Some asked Vodafone to reconsider sites they had discounted while others suggested new options.

Towards the end of the session, a crowd of residents gathered to see Andy Somerset, whose house is next to the site of the proposed mast, present a petition with over 590 signatures to Vodafone’s Dr Rob Matthews. Dr Matthews said he could make no guarantees but that he would go away and ask the company’s engineers to investigate the alternatives suggested.

Vodafone can be in no doubt now about the strength of feeling locally. As of today, the Badminton Road application still stands and will go before the planning committee on 31st January, but this is the first glimmer of hope for residents.

Claire Young went to Thornbury today to deliver a copy of the petition and ten more letters of objection safely into the hands of the case officer.

Vodafone drop-in session today

Don't forget that Vodafone and their agents will be running a drop-in session for residents concerned about the phone mast proposals from 2pm to 7pm at the Manor Hall.

Packed public meeting rejects phone mast proposal

It was standing room only at the Manor Hall, Coalpit Heath on Monday evening, as residents unanimously opposed Vodafone’s application to erect a 12m high 3G mast on the Badminton Road near the junction with Woodside Road.

Around 85 people turned out to voice their opposition to the plans and add their signatures to the 500+ already collected for a petition by residents. Some raised their health fears, while others questioned the need for the new mast and criticised the visual impact it would have in the village. To date there are approximately 140 objections registered on the South Gloucestershire Council website, with more expected.

Neither Vodafone nor their agents attended the meeting. Instead they are holding a drop-in session between 2pm and 7pm on Wednesday 9th January, also at the Manor Hall, Coalpit Heath.

Local Councillor Claire Young, who organised and chaired the meeting, said, “I am backing residents in opposing the proposals. The people of Coalpit Heath have sent a clear message to Vodafone that this application is completely unacceptable. It is not too late for them to withdraw this application and find a more suitable site.”

She added, “I urge concerned residents to attend the drop-in session on Wednesday and to make objections via the Council website or in writing to the Council Offices at Thornbury before the deadline on Thursday.”

The meeting also called on South Gloucestershire Council to take a co-ordinated approach to mobile phone mast applications.

The story has been taken up by the Bristol Evening Post.

Don't forget

• Phone mast public meeting, 7.15pm tonight (7th) in the Manor Hall, Coalpit Heath


• Safer Stronger Community Group, 7.30pm tomorrow (8th) at the Manor School, Coalpit Heath


• Phone mast drop-in session run by Vodafone and their agents, 2pm-7pm Wednesday (9th) in the Manor Hall, Coalpit Heath

Thanks to all those who helped deliver flyers for the two phone mast meetings over the weekend.

Phone mast - two chances to have your say

Coalpit Heath residents will have two opportunities next week to voice their concerns about plans for a 3G phone mast in the village.

Claire Young has arranged a public meeting starting at 7.15pm on Monday 7th January in the Newman Room, Manor Hall, Coalpit Heath. This will give people a chance to raise concerns and sign a petition started by local residents.

Vodafone and their agents were unable to provide suitably qualified representatives for this meeting, but instead have agreed to hold a drop-in session from 2pm-7pm on Wednesday 9th January in the Manor Hall, Coalpit Heath. Mark Walters of Needham Haddrell, Vodafone’s agents and Dr. Rob Matthews, the EMF Advisory Unit Manager for Vodafone, will be available to answer queries and discuss alternative sites.

Don’t forget... you can view the application online and make comments by clicking on the "Comment on application" link.

Public meeting latest

Vodafone's agents have withdrawn from Monday's meeting, saying that it was impossible to find someone from Vodafone with sufficient experience to attend at short notice. They have offered to set-up and run a drop-in session later in the week or the following week so that residents can view the proposals, ask questions, suggest alternative sites and voice concerns.

Claire Young will be going ahead with Monday's meeting, so she can hear residents views to help her represent them better. Residents will also be able to sign the petition if they have not already done so.

Phone mast - your chance to ask questions

Claire Young will be chairing a public meeting at 7.15pm on Monday 7th January in the Newman Room at the Manor Hall, Coalpit Heath. Mark Walters of Needham Haddrell, Vodafone's agents, has said he will be happy to be there to answer residents' queries and listen to their concerns.