Anger as mobile mast plan threatens Hadrian's Wall
Apr 11 2009 by Dave Black, The Journal
A NEW bid to erect a mobile phone mast half a mile from one of the region’s historic treasures is being recommended for approval, despite strong opposition by local councillors.
Telecommunications giant Telefonica O2 UK wants to site the 27.5m-high lattice tower in Heddon-on-the-Wall, Northumberland – 800 metres north of the Roman Wall and within the official setting of the World Heritage Site.
Parish councillors at Heddon say it is “inconceivable” that a mobile phone mast could be sited within the World Heritage Site under any circumstances, and have branded the proposal “completely unacceptable”.
They say they are also surprised that English Heritage – the national custodians of Hadrian’s Wall – have raised no objection to the plan.
Next week county councillors will be recommended by officers to approve the application, the third for a new mobile phone mast close to the Wall in the last few years.
A previous bid by Telefonica O2 for a 25m mast on the same West Heddon Nursery site was rejected by Castle Morpeth Council last year, on the grounds of insufficient information about the need for it or possible alternative solutions. And in 2007 Government planning inspector Wenda Fabian rejected an appeal by T Mobile against the same authority’s refusal to approve a 16m mast, 190 metres from the wall.
Telefonica’s latest bid says the mast is required to fill a gap in mobile phone coverage, as it will replace existing telecoms equipment on a line of electricity pylons which are to be removed.
Yesterday Heddon-on-the-Wall Parish Council vice-chairman Ian Armstrong said any new telecommunications equipment should be sited on pylons which would remain in the area. “We would much rather that than have a new mast sticking up in green countryside.
“We were taken by surprise that English Heritage didn’t respond to this application, because we thought they would, as it is within the setting of the Roman Wall.” The parish council says if a mast is to go up anywhere near Hadrian’s Wall it should be disguised as a tree.
The Telefonica application goes before the county council’s west area planning committee on Thursday, with officers claiming it is now justified.
A report to councillors says additional information submitted by the company shows that only a site within the setting of Hadrian’s Wall and the green belt will provide the necessary phone coverage. It says there are problems with installing the required equipment on local electricity pylons.
English Heritage failed to respond to requests for comment.
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