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The site is Castletown Fire Station which is located to the southwest of Farrants Way. The site is not within the Castletown Conservation Area. However, the site does abut the Conservation Area. To the southwest of the application site are the residential properties of No’s 53-59 (inclusive) Scarlett Road. To the southeast of the application site is a car park. To the north west of the application site is the public highway of Scarlett Road. On the opposite side of the Scarlett Road is a new residential development.
This application is seeking planning permission for the erection of a 12.5m monopole with 2 x 3m transmitting aerials on the top of the monopole. This will give an overall height of the structure ~~will be~~ 15.5m.
Within the adopted Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007, the following policies are considered to be relevant in the determination of this application: General Policy 2 and Infrastructure Policy 3.
Infrastructure Policy 3 states that "A balance must be struck between the need for new, evolving communications systems to satisfy residential and business demand and the impact that the necessary infrastructure will have upon the environment. Measures which may help to achieve a satisfactory balance will include a presumption against visually intrusive masts in sensitive landscapes, the encouragement of mast sharing by different operators, the removal of redundant infrastructure. Exceptions to this policy would need to demonstrate a strategic national need, which cannot otherwise be secured by mast sharing or alternative locations"
The following previous applications are considered relevant in the consideration of this application:
00/02201/B - Installation of replacement garage doors – granted on 20.04.2001
Castletown Commissioners have not commented on the application. Highways Division of the Department of Transport do not oppose the application. Standard comments have been received from the Manx Electricity Authority
The Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service have indicated in a supporting statement that there are presently experiencing some difficulties with their Multitone Fire Service Alerting System in the Castletown and Port St Mary areas. This system is used to operate the personal pagers of Fire Service personnel in Castletown and the surrounding areas in order that they can respond to the Fire Station in the event of an incident.
However, it has been reported that the Service pagers are, on occasion, failing to operate when the signal is transmitted from Castletown Fire Station. After testing and consultation with the Communications Division of the Department of Home Affairs, the Fire Service suspect that due to the new development adjacent to the Fire Station at Castle Court Apartments, the duplicate pager alert from Castletown Fire Station is failing to reach its destination in some areas.
The Communication Division have suggested that this problem could be rectified by raising the two transmitting aerials which are presently sited on the roof of the Station. The Fire Service has come forward with this proposal to rectify the situation.
The key issue here is the Fire Service needs to resolve this situation as it is affecting their operational needs by not being able to call out Fire Service personnel to Castletown Fire Station. I have spoken to the Fire Service prior to this application being submitted to the Department. A couple of options were discussed. These were either locating a mast towards the rear of the Fire Station adjacent to the rear boundary or to the front of the Fire Station. Both options have there merits and negative points. I consider this application is finely balanced.
My concern was if the mast were located to the rear of the application site it would be visual intrusive when viewed from the neighbouring properties of Scarlett Road. I considered this would have been unacceptable. However, since the proposed mast is set to front of the Fire Station I consider the visual impact of the mast onto the residents of Scarlett Road to be minimal.
I now turn to my main concern regarding this proposal in respect of its impact on the visual amenities of the street scene. This development will be a substantial structure but this has to be put into context with the existing street lighting columns in Farrants Way, which are already substantial in height. The lighting columns are approximately in height. The proposed mast will be of a similar height as the existing lighting columns. However, the aerials will make the overall appearance of the structure significantly taller than the lighting columns. Any views of the aerials will have the sky as a backdrop. I consider this will help to reduce any impact on the visual impact of the
development within the street scene. On balance, I consider the development will have some impact on the visual amenities of the street scene. However, I consider the operational needs of the Fire Service outweigh any impact of the mast on the visual amenities of the street scene.
The application is also proposing to install 2 flood lights to the mast in order to illuminate the Station's car park and forecourt. The applicant has not provided any specific details of the lighting scheme. However, I consider there are appropriate conditions which can be attached to ensure the floodlights do not impact on any of the neighbouring properties.
On balance, I recommend that planning permission be granted subject to conditions.
The Department of Transport and the local authority are, by virtue of The Control of Advertisements Regulations 2005, Regulation 9 (5) (c), considered "interested persons" and as such should be afforded party status.
Whilst the Manx Electricity Authority represents a statutory authority, the points raised in correspondence relate to Building Control matters and not planning and as such should not be afforded party status in this instance.
Recommended Decision: Permitted
Date of Recommendation: 22.11.2007
C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions R : Reasons for refusal
C 1. The development hereby permitted shall commence before the expiration of four years from the date of this notice.
C 2. This permission relates to the monopole aerial base with associated aerials and lighting as shown in drawing numbers 1776/1, 1776/2, 1776/3, B/MERC/7619 Rev A, C/RSL/7784 Rev A date stamped 20th September 2007, Mast Details from Francis Lewis International Ltd date stamped 20th September 2007, Letter from the Operational Support Department of the Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service dated 20th September 2007.
C 3. Before the installation of the floodlights, details of the floodlighting units, the spillage of light, and the direction of control of the floodlights shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the planning authority and thereafter no alterations to the floodlights shall occur without the approval in writing of the planning authority.
C 4.
Within one month of the installation of the mast hereby approved, it shall be colour coated in full accordance with the details to be submitted and approved in writing by the planning authority.
N 1.
The applicant is advised that there are Underground Cables/Overhead Lines present in the area indicated in the planning application. Please contact Anthony Kinrade or Ian Horsey, Operations and Maintenance Department, Network Services, Manx Electricity Authority, (Tel. 687687) to discuss working practices around Cables and Overhead Lines which may be required to be diverted before any work can be carried out on site.
The applicant is also advised to contact the Manx Electricity Authority for Electrical Site Safety 5 documents, (Tel. 687766), before any work is carried out on site. All work to be carried out with reference to Health and Safety Executive Guidance Notes HS(G)47 and GS6.
I confirm that this decision accords with Government Circular Nos 44/05 (Delegation of Functions to Director of Planning and Building Control) and 47/05 (Delegation of Functions to Senior Planning Officer)
Decision Made : Permitted Date : 23/11/07
Signed : M. I. McCauley Director of Planning and Building Control
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