Perth Campaigners win phone mast battle

Sep 26 2008 by Andrew Welsh, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

PEOPLE power has forced planners into a rethink over controversial plans for a mobile phone mast near a Perth hospital.

Telecommunications giant Vodafone’s bid to construct a tower and base station adjacent to a conservation zone south-west of Murray Royal Hospital was thrown out by councillors at a crucial meeting on Wednesday.

The decision to reject the firm’s proposals followed a concerted campaign of opposition by residents in the Fair City’s leafy Kinnoull, Bridgend and Gannochy districts.

Despite 99 letters of objection from locals being submitted to Perth and Kinross Council, the local authority’s development quality manager Nick Brian had recommended approving the application.

A representative from the Jonathan Gloag Trust, the site’s owners, said the charity and community councillors were all opposed to the scheme at Muirhall Road, next to Millennium Park.

Trust spokesman Alastair Napier claimed erecting the mast could “interfere” with long-running proposals for a combined housing and medical development at Murray Royal.

“The structure’s position is very close to the hospital where a detailed application will be considered shortly,” he said.

“The worst possible scenario is this project affecting a multi-million pound development.”

Mr Napier said the trust had commissioned a report from traffic engineers who concluded the site was unsuitable for telecommunications equipment.

At 40-feet high, he insisted the mast would tower above the tallest street lamps, and that a more appropriate location for it was the opposite side of Muirhall Road.

“Even the box containing all the technical equipment will be well above the existing fence which surrounds Millennium Park,” said Mr Napier.

“A company the size of Vodafone could surely provide underground services across the road.

“Instead, they have picked the worst place and a structure that is wholly inappropriate.”

City centre councillor Peter Barrett claimed the proposal could have marred one of Perth’s most attractive routes.

“No regard has been taken to minimise the visual impact,” said Mr Barrett.

“The cabin would form a solid and alien blight on the park’s tree-lined contours.

“The development’s price would be the loss of amenity for residents and park users.”

He said discussions with NHS Tayside had revealed health chiefs were opposed to the scheme on grounds that it might have a detrimental impact on their own plans for Murray Royal.

“A prominent recreational space would be disfigured to allow Vodafone to develop their 3G network on the cheap,” Mr Barrett insisted.

“Other sites across the road could be pursued with more vigour.”

Lorraine Caddell, a member of the council’s development control committee, accused Vodafone of “going for the cheapest option at the expense of the community”.

“Siting the mast on the other side of the road is the more expensive but better option,” she said.

Councillor Sandy Miller also took the planners to task over their recommendation.

“The mast will be very obtrusive in the landscape,” he insisted.

Committee members unanimously rejected Vodafone’s bid, prompting cheers from objectors in the gallery at PKC’s chambers.