Third Planning Application for Mast at Celbridge House Deemed Invalid
Issued : Friday 3 September, 2010
Areas : Celbridge
Deputy Emmet Stagg and his colleague Cllr. Kevin Byrne have been advised by Kildare Co. Council that the third planning application for a 21 metre telecommunications mast in the amenity area adjoining the Celbridge House Public House Site on the Maynooth Road, Celbridge, has been declared invalid. This follows previous planning applications which were deemed invalid last February and last May.
The previous Planning applications were declared invalid stated Deputy Stagg because of problems with the site notices but in this instance there were a number of discrepancies in the paperwork relating to the actual site notices and various drawings submitted as part of the planning application.
Deputy Stagg stated that Telefonica O2 are likely to submit a fourth planning application in the near future and he indicated that both he and Cllr. Kevin Byrne would be objecting further to the proposal.
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24th JULY, 2010 - Stagg Relodges Objection to Proposed Mast at Celbridge House Site
Deputy Emmet Stagg has along with his colleague Cllr. Kevin Byrne relodged an objection to the proposal for a 21 Metre Telecommunications Mast in the amenity area adjoining the Celbridge House Public House on the Maynooth Road, Celbridge.
Two previous planning application`s for the Mast were deemed invalid because the location of the site notice for the planning application was deemed to be not considered easily visible and in the second instance no site notice was erected.
In objecting to the proposal Deputy Stagg made the following points:
- The site in question is zoned as an Open Space and Amenity under the Celbridge Local Area Plan 2010. The objective of this zoning is to protect and improve the amenity area and this proposal would destroy it.
- The proposal would seriously injure the amenities of the area and would set an undesirable precedent.
- He rejected the assertion that the site was a last resort option and stated that the Precautionary Principle should apply in this instance.
- The 21 Metre Mast would be visually obtrusive at this prominent location along the Main Entrance to Celbridge Town.
- The Mast would be visually obtrusive for residents living in Castlevillage Estate, Thornhill Court and Crodaun Forest Park and the proposal would be detrimental to their residential amenity.
In conclusion Deputy Stagg stated that this unacceptable proposal should be rejected comprehensively by Kildare Co. Council.
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9th MAY, 2010 - Telefonica O2 will again have to Resubmit Application for Proposed Mast at Celbridge House Site
Deputy Emmet Stagg and his colleague Cllr. Kevin Byrne have been advised that the second planning application for a 21 metre telecommunications mast in the amenity area adjoining the Celbridge House Public House site on the Maynooth Road, Celbridge, has been declared invalid. This follows a previous planning application which was deemed invalid last February.
The second planning application was declared invalid stated Deputy Stagg because the site notice for the planning application was not in place when inspected by Council Officials
Deputy Stagg stated that Telefonica O2 are likely to submit a third planning application in the near future and he indicated that both he and Cllr. Kevin Byrne would be objecting further to the proposal.
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25th MARCH, 2010 - Stagg Relodges Objection to Proposed Mast at Celbridge House Site
Deputy Emmet Stagg has along with his colleague Cllr. Kevin Byrne relodged an objection to the proposal for a 21 Metre Telecommunications Mast in the amenity area adjoining the Celbridge House Public House on the Maynooth Road, Celbridge.
The original planning application for the Mast was deemed invalid because the location of the site notice for the planning application was deemed to be not considered easily visible. A further planning application was lodged with Kildare Co. Council on March 16th last.
In objecting to the proposal Deputy Stagg made the following points:
- The site in question is zoned as an Open Space and Amenity under the Celbridge Local Area Plan 2010. The objective of this zoning is to protect and improve the amenity area and this proposal would destroy it.
- The proposal would seriously injure the amenities of the area and would set an undesirable precedent.
- He rejected the assertion that the site was a last resort option and stated that the Precautionary Principle should apply in this instance.
- The 21 Metre Mast would be visually obtrusive at this prominent location along the Main Entrance to Celbridge Town.
- The Mast would be visually obtrusive for residents living in Castlevillage Estate, Thornhill Court and Crodaun Forest Park and the proposal would be detrimental to their residential amenity.
In conclusion Deputy Stagg stated that this unacceptable proposal should be rejected comprehensively by Kildare Co. Council.
COPY OF OBJECTION
Mr. John Lahart,
Director of Planning,
Kildare Co. Council,
Aras Chill Dara,
Devoy Park,
Naas,
Co. Kildare.
25/3/10
Dear Director,
RE: 10/261 – Telefonica O2 – 21 Metre Monopole Support Structure – Celbridge House Public House Site, Maynooth Road, Celbridge.
We wish to object to the above proposal for the following reasons.
ZONING OF SITE
The site was zoned Amenity/Open Space under the Celbridge Development Plan 2002 and Open Space and Amenity under the Celbridge Local Area Plan 2010 which was adopted on Monday January 25th, 2010.
The Land use zoning Objective for Amenity/Open Space under the 2002 Plan was quite specific with the overall objective being ‘To protect, provide for and improve open spaces for amenity or recreational purposes’. Further on it states ‘Only development which contribute to the improvement of, and which are complementary to open space, amenity or recreational facilities will be permitted within this zone. Permitted development should therefore be compatible with the council`s objective that these areas be retained and/or developed as amenity/open space/recreational space.’
The Land use zoning objective for Open Space and Amenity under the 2010 Plan is quite specific also with the overall objective being ‘To protect and provide for recreation, open space and amenity provision’. Further on it states ‘The areas included in this zoning objective cover both private and public open space and are dispersed throughout the town. The aims of this land use zoning objective are to protect, improve and provide for recreation, open space and amenity provision; to protect, improve and maintain public open space; to preserve private open space and to provide recreational and community facilities. The Council will not normally permit development that would result in a loss of open space within the town except where specifically provided for in this Local Area Plan.’
Therefore both the old and the Current Celbridge Town Plan are quite specific that areas such as the site in question must be protected and improved for recreation and amenity purposes. The proposal for a 21 metre mast located beside the boundary wall with the Maynooth Road will be visually obtrusive and will at one stroke of the pen destroy this Amenity area. The applicants argue that utility structures are open for consideration in such areas. We would suggest that this would cover water/sewerage pipes but for the applicants to suggest that this allows for a 21 metre mast to be built in the area is nothing short of ridiculous.
The proposal would seriously injure the amenities of the area and would set an undesirable precedent. It certainly does not protect or improve the amenity of the area.
Therefore we call on Kildare Co. Council to uphold their specific objectives and protect this site from destruction by this 21 metre mast.
KILDARE COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2005/2011
Under Section 9.4.1 of the County Development Plan which covers Telecommunications strategy it states as follows: ‘While each application will be assessed on its merits in terms of visual impacts, only as a last resort will free-standing masts be permitted within or in the immediate surrounds of smaller towns and villages, or in a residential area or beside a school. If such a location should become necessary, sites already developed for utilities should be considered and masts and antennae should be designed and adapted for specific locations. The support structure should be kept to a minimum height consistent with effective operation. In residential areas or beside schools, the support structure should be monopole or poles rather than a latticed tripod or square structure. In the vicinity of larger towns, operators should be encouraged to locate in industrial estates or in industrial zoned land’.
We do not accept the assertion by the applicants that this particular site is the only site available to them to achieve the required coverage. The site is surrounded by residential homes in Castlevillage Estate, Thornhill Court and Crodaun Forest Park Estate (directly across the road). In addition Aghards N.S is only 300 metres away. There are ample sites for antennae on buildings near the roundabout on the Maynooth/Celbridge Road leading to the interchange which could be used for the required coverage thus not necessitating a mast at this highly prominent site and recreational area.
Therefore we reject the argument that this is a last resort situation. The 1996 Telecommunications Antennae and Support Structure Guidelines also state that only as a last resort, where absolutely no other site is available, should masts be located in residential areas or beside schools. In other words the Guidelines invoke the Precautionary Principle in relation to such masts, given the unclear scientific knowledge on health risks associated with emissions.
VISUALLY OBTRUSIVE
The proposed site for this mast is at a prominent location on the Maynooth Road, Celbridge, the main entrance to the Town. At present this wooded area is a pleasant feature along this heavily trafficked road. The mast, if allowed to proceed, would be highly visible for all users of the road. Furthermore and more importantly it would be visually obtrusive for residents living in Castlevillage Estate, Crodaun Forest Park Estate and Thornhill Court. This visual obtrusiveness would be detrimental to their residential amenity.
We enclose fee of €20 and call on Kildare Co. Council to comprehensively refuse planning permission for this unacceptable development.
Yours sincerely,
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Emmet M. Stagg T.D. Cllr. Kevin Byrne
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19th FEBRUARY, 2010 - Telefonica O2 will have to Resubmit Application for Proposed Mast at Celbridge House Site
Deputy Emmet Stagg and his colleague Cllr. Kevin Byrne have been advised that the planning application for a 21 metre telecommunications mast in the amenity area adjoining the Celbridge House Public House site on the Maynooth Road, Celbridge, has been declared invalid.
The application was declared invalid stated Deputy Stagg because the location of the site notice for the planning application was deemed to be not considered easily visible.
Deputy Stagg stated that Telefonica O2 are likely to submit a further planning application in the near future and he indicated that both he and Cllr. Kevin Byrne would be objecting further to the proposal.
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26th JANUARY, 2010 - Stagg Lodges Objection to Proposed Mast at Celbridge House Site
Deputy Emmet Stagg has along with his colleague Cllr. Kevin Byrne lodged an objection to the proposal for a 21 Metre Telecommunications Mast in the amenity area adjoining the Celbridge House Public House on the Maynooth Road, Celbridge
In objecting to the proposal Deputy Stagg made the following points:
- The site in question is zoned as an Amenity area under the Celbridge Development Plan 2002 and the draft Celbridge Local Area Plan 2009. The objective of this zoning is to protect and improve the amenity area and this proposal would destroy it.
- The proposal would seriously injure the amenities of the area and would set an undesirable precedent.
- He rejected the assertion that the site was a last resort option and stated that the Precautionary Principle should apply in this instance.
- The 21 Metre Mast would be visually obtrusive at this prominent location along the Main Entrance to Celbridge Town.
- The Mast would be visually obtrusive for residents living in Castlevillage Estate, Thornhill Court and Crodaun Forest Park and the proposal would be detrimental to their residential amenity.
In conclusion Deputy Stagg stated that this unacceptable proposal should be rejected comprehensively by Kildare Co. Council.
