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Fife:
Scotland Created: 17 Jul 2005
COUNCILLORS TO RULE ON MARKINCH MAST PLAN

A PROPOSED mobile mast to the north of Markinch looks set to be refused by councillors.
Vodafone Ltd., has asked Fife Council for permission to install a 14-metre high mast, three antennas and associated equipment cabins on the north side of the A92 junction with Stobcross Road.
The application was due to come before councillors at the Central Area Development Committee Meeting in the Town House, Kirkcaldy yesterday (Tuesday).
A report prepared by planner Stuart Wilson, and placed before the committee, said there are three planning considerations to be looked at - government guidance, the Development Plan and objections received.
Mr Wilson said although the proposed mast was higher than the existing 12-metre high street lamp post, it would not impact on the overall area.
And when looking at the Development Plan, Mr Wilson said the application site is located within a green corridor but as the mast would be installed within the road verge, it would not be detrimental to this.
The proposal is also in accordance with policies relating to design and visual impacts.
But the proposal was recommended for refusal on road safety grounds.
Fife Council's head of transportation and the Scottish Executive were consulted on the plans and while there was no objection from the local authority, the Executive rejected the application.
Its objection related to road safety as maintenance vehicles would have to be parked on the local unclassified road near to the A92 junction.
Mr Wilson said: "If approved, it will set an undesirable precedent for similar developments elsewhere."
31 August 2005. Fife Today
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North Glenrothes.
MORATORIUM ON MASTS LIFTED

AN OUTRIGHT ban on mobile 'phone masts being sited on council land has been lifted.
But Fife authority's decision has come too late for anti-mast campaigners in north Glenrothes.
They were angered when a 15-metre-high monopole was erected in Formonthills Road last year.
Irate residents living in the mast's shadow fought a long-running battle with mobile company O2 over the device's position - even trying to block engineers from replacing the mast after it had been taken away for repairs in May.
However, despite the council's vow to remove its moratorium, it appears the Formonthills "eyesore" - as many locals have dubbed it - is here to stay.
Ron Page, chairman of the North Glenrothes Community Council, said he hoped the authority's U-turn would spare other communities the grief north Glenrothes folk had gone through.

"We did ask O2 if they could review the situation and perhaps even put the mast across the road," he told The Gazette.
"They said it had been too expensive to move it and in any case, Fife Council had agreed to where it was sited.
"Hopefully, in the future, the options will increase."
Mr Page added: "These masts do not have to be exactly adjacent to anybody's house.
"It's clear that all the mobile companies and Fife Council's planning department have had their fingers burned by what's happened up at Formonthills Road.
"It's a beacon to future development."
Councillor John Cameron, spokesman for development and planning, admitted there had to be a balance between economic benefits to Fife and the need of the industry to put equipment in appropriate locations.
"We appreciate that many communities across Fife have concerns about the location of telecoms equipment, but with the moratorium lifted, we may now be able to avoid masts being located by roadsides or near houses and put these on more suitable sites at council property instead," he commented.
"If a council site is the best location for equipment to be placed, then officers and councillors will work with the current guidance and policies to make that determination."
The council will receive money from operators whose masts were located on council premises.
Indeed, before the moratorium came into place in 1999, the council received £35,504 in fees each year.
But Councillor Cameron added that this should not be a "determining factor" in any policy or decision made.
A detailed policy will now be developed to help councillors deal with future mast applications concerning council property.
It will aim to avoid issues of equipment being put on schools or other buildings involving residents, members of the public or council staff.
Christine May MSP has welcomed the news of the change of heart by Fife Council.
She said: "This decision has been badly needed, especially in Glenrothes, where the installation of masts has been very contentious.
"In many instances, council-owned land might have been a better location for masts, but, because of the ban these could not be considered.
"Now, all possible sites will be up for assessment, and it may be possible to find locations which are further from homes and less obtrusive but still effective."
Fife Today 29 June 2005
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Kirkcaldy.
Fury as Ice Arena mast gets nod
The Scottish Executive has overturned a Fife Council decision to refuse planning permission for a mobile phone mast on the roof of Fife Ice Arena in Kirkcaldy.
The decision was today branded “a disgrace” by local councillor John Cameron, who vehemently opposed the application when it was considered last September.
He claimed the site was too close to a nursery and a special school for handicapped children, and would cause anxiety within these communities.
But today’s meeting of the Central Development Committee heard that applicants Hutchison 3G had appealed to the Executive, which ruled the Ice Arena was a suitable location.
The Executive reporter also concluded that issues of potential health effects were not a matter for the planning system and should be dealt with under alternative legislation.
A furious Councillor Cameron said, “It beggars belief that the reporter can overturn Fife Council’s decision.
“There is a nursery just 50 yards away from there, the Rosslyn special school is 50 yards away, and there are houses 25 yards away.
“I think it’s a disgrace, especially when there is an industrial estate 400 yards away which would be a more appropriate location.”
He added, “It’s absolutely ridiculous and I’m going to write to the Scottish Executive and MSPs and ask what planet this reporter comes from.”
Hutchison 3G plans to install three pole-mounted antennae and one transmission dish alongside antennae already on the roof.
Council officials had recommended the application be approved because of its limited size.
Fife Evening Telegraph and Post 07 June 2005
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Dundee.
North East Fife:
Mast plan gets go-ahead

Mobile phone company Vodafone will be able to put up a 14.5-metre mast in Strathmartine Road, Dundee, after the Scottish Executive overturned a decision by councillors.
Last year the development quality committee voted 21 to six to refuse planning permission for the mast, close to Cox Street, on the grounds that it was near an existing mast and would affect the environmental quality enjoyed by residents.
Council officials had recommended approval because Vodafone had looked at 18 alternative sites but had been forced to discard them because they were technically unsuitable or too close to houses.
Vodafone appealed to the Executive’s planning inquiry unit A company spokeswoman said the mast was needed to improve customer service and its height was not unusual for an urban area.
The Executive has now granted planning permission for the development, including an antenna, equipment housing and compound, to go ahead at 534b Strathmartine Road.
Meanwhile, Airwave O2 has lodged an application asking the council to remove a specific no TETRA condition imposed on a mast at Peacehill Farm, by Wormit, even although they have no plans to use the site.
In February, North East Fife Environment and Development Committee approved an application by Orange PCS for a 13-metre mobile phone (2G) mast. But, because of objections from locals and health concerns associated with the controversial TETRA system, councillors added a condition there should be no addition of such equipment at the site.
A spokesman from Airwave O2 defended TETRA and said they could not let the condition go without fighting against it.
He said; “We have no plans, or need for a mast or a site share. But we felt on principle we couldn’t let this blatant discrimination against TETRA go un-opposed and are asking for that condition to be removed.”
Arthur Jarrett, who has campaigned against TETRA masts and is a member of Scottish Action on TETRA, praised councillors for including the condition in the original application and urged concerned locals to object to Airwave’s attempt to have the ban removed.
He said; “I think it was the first time a local authority had done such a thing and councillors thought carefully about this condition.
“It can’t have been well received, especially as some of these companies have exercised an almost devious right to do what they like elsewhere.
“Airwave O2 simply don’t want any council development committee acting in the interest of communities and pro-actively blocking them out. They certainly don’t want Fife councillors to create such a dangerous precedent, which might sensibly be followed elsewhere.
“This is really the company and industry teaching councillors all over Britain a lesson, putting them in their place and making sure they stay there.
“Local people who have appreciated the effort made by North East Fife councillors, now require to act swiftly again to object to Airwave O2’s application to undo their protection.”
Dundee Evening Telegraph and Post. Created: 6 Jun 2005
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Fife
Mast plan condition challenged

A TELECOMMUNICATIONS company has accused Fife Council of discriminating against TETRA—the police communications system at the centre of controversy across the whole of the UK.
Airwave O2 has lodged an application asking the council to remove a specific no-TETRA condition imposed on a mast at Peacehill Farm, by Wormit, even although it has no plans to use the site.
In February, north-east Fife environment and development committee approved an application by Orange PCS for a 13-metre mobile phone (2G) mast.
But because of objections from locals and health concerns associated with the controversial TETRA system, councillors added a condition there should be no addition of such equipment at the site.
A spokesman from Airwave O2 defended TETRA and told The Courier it could not let the condition go without fighting against it.
He said, “We have no plans, or need for a mast or a site share.
“But we felt on a point of principle we couldn’t let this blatant discrimination against TETRA go unopposed and are asking for that condition to be removed.”
Arthur Jarrett, who has campaigned against TETRA masts and is a member of Scottish Action on TETRA, praised councillors for including the condition in the original application and urged concerned locals to object to Airwave’s attempt to have the ban removed.
He said, “I think it was the first time a local authority had done such a thing and councillors thought deliberately and carefully about this condition.
“It can’t have been well received, especially as some of these companies have exercised an almost devious right to do what they like elsewhere.
“Airwave O2 simply don’t want any council development committee acting in the interest of communities and pro-actively blocking them out. They certainly don’t want Fife councillors to create such a dangerous precedent, which might sensibly be followed elsewhere.
“This is really the company and industry teaching a lesson to the councillors all over Britain, putting councillors in their places and making sure they stay there.
By Cara Dodson. 30-05-05
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