Appeal against decision for mast on GAA club grounds

AN APPEAL has been lodged against South Dublin County Council’s decision to refuse permission for the installation of a 21-metre telecommunications mast at Thomas Davis GAA Club in Tallaght.

The subject site is a patch of greenspace to the right of the GAA club’s existing Astro pitch on the Kiltipper Road.

On Tower Ireland Limited sought planning permission for the installation of a 21-metre monopole carrying telecommunications and broadband equipment.

The proposal included the placement of associated equipment and cabinets enclosed within a 2.4-metre palisade fence compound at Thomas Davis GAA Club.

One objection was lodged against the development by local resident Peter Byrne, who said the mast was “not ideal for this area and would be better in a more rural location”.

He also suggested the corner-high floodlights for the all-weather pitches could accommodate local broadband and IOT services instead of a mast being placed.

It was also noted in Mr Byrne’s objection that there is a mast on the Old Bawn Road which currently has two service providers “and could take at least two more”.

On January 30 last, South Dublin County Council refused permission for the structure as it would “be visually obtrusive and result in an incongruous feature” of the surrounding area.

The council also stated that the mast “would contravene the proper planning and sustainable development of the area”.

On Tower Ireland Limited lodged an appeal against this decision on February 19, who said the proposed location of the mast “is justified on technical grounds”.

They added: “There are no existing telecommunications sites in the area to co-locate equipment onto, nor is there a suitable and acquirable alternative site that meet the coverage objectives of the operator networks.”

They stated that mitigation measures, including the redesign of the structure, had been applied so it would not “significantly negatively impact on local amenities of the area”.

A decision on the appeal has not yet been made by An Bord Pleanála.