Barrett slates plan

Aug 26 2008 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

BUT the plans to install the controversial 14m high telecommunication mast have been slated by the local councillor.

Peter Barrett told the PA: “The applicant or their agent couldn't have picked a more exposed or insensitive site if they had tried. I don't know of any other park in Perth which has anything like this plonked right next to it.”

Councillor Barrett stressed he was not opposed to a mast in principle but questioned whether the site was suitable, saying: “The location chosen by Tyco or Vodafone will have a major visual impact on the housing at the bottom of the Millennium Park and everyone whose house overlooks the park from higher up the hill is going to have the mast intruding into their skyline.”

The councillor is adamant that a solution is both simple and readily available to the applicant.

“They only have to move the mast a short distance and to the other side of the road and you would hardly know it was there. If they did that the mast would be screened by tall trees from the houses below. It wouldn't be in the line of sight from the houses above and people walking up or down Muirhall Road wouldn't see it standing out starkly in the sky. They could even install one of these masts disguised as a tree. For an area of such high amenity is surprises me that they didn't think of that themselves.”

Councillor Barrett firmly believes Vodafone's site selection is driven by their own cost considerations.

“Tyco have admitted that there isn't adopted highway land on the other side of the road. It means that they could easily shift their mast but they would either have to pay rent to the landowner or purchase ground.”