Residents say 30m communications structure will be ‘eyesore’ in area

RESIDENTS have described plans to erect a 30 metre high communications structure in Slade, Saggart, as “unsightly” and an “eyesore”.

ESB Telecoms Ltd lodged a planning application in December 2020 for the construction of a 30m communication structure carrying antennae and dishes.

Proposals include associated ground mounted equipment to share with other licensed operators within a 2.4m high palisade fence at the existing ESB substation site just off Castle Road.

Several submissions were sent into the council by local residents, many of which were objecting to the plans.

Kirstie Muldoon and Niall Nolan from Slade described the proposed 30m structure as being “out of scale with the existing rural landscape”.

Vincent and Brid Feeney pointed out that in the past, there was immense difficulty in getting a single-storey bungalow built in the area so as not to affect the visual amenity.

Thomas Murphy, a local farmer, said that “you can’t obtain permission for a two-storey house because of height restriction and yet this mast is 30 metres in the air”.

A few of the objections highlighted that there is a hub of communication masts in the Slievethoul forest, which is located just 4km from the subject site.

According to the objectors, they claim those masts belong to ESB and Hibernian Towers, with the latter telling them that there is capacity on that site for increased communications infrastructure.

“What is the need for such a structure at Slade, Saggart?,” the letter from Patrica Hinch, William T, George and Harry Kenny reads.

The core concerns expressed by the local residents were around the area being a National Heritage Area, the environmental impact on the River Camac, health concerns, property devaluation and visual impact.

The council requested further information in February 2021, giving the applicant six-months to submit documentation relating to the distance to the River Camac and detailed visual impact assessment.

Part of that visual impact assessment was to contain justification for the need for a structure scaling 30m high.

However, the six-month time limit to present additional information expired.

On August 20, Niall Fitzpatrick, Senior Planner with ESB Telecoms Ltd, wrote to the council seeking an extension to avoid needing to start the application process again.

The period for submitting further information was extended up to November and within days, the relevant documentation was received by the council.

There is a requirement for there to be a setback distance of 15m from the proposed development site and the river bank for biodiversity and access for maintenance of the stream.

In a document, the ESB argued that the total area of the substation has already been developed, including within 15m of the river.

They stated that the substation site “is not suitable habitat for most wildlife given the dangers inherent in dealing with live electricity cabling throughout the site”.

They came to the conclusion that the plan is to locate the mast at the location closest to the stream, however they are willing to relocate it to around 11m from the river bank.

A line of sight report was also submitted with the application.

A decision is due from the local planning authority on October 18, 2021.