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Field adjacent Sunnybank East Foxdale Isle of Man IM4 3HH
Planning Application Supporting Statement
DATE: 13 June 2008 PREPARED BY: Steven Allan Cable \& Wireless
Cable \& Wireless IOM REF: Site 122 Foxdale South
Cable and Wireless Isle of Man Limited (C\&W) has recently been awarded an Isle of Man (IOM) Mobile Operators License, issued by the Island's Communications Commission, to provide a mobile phone network and services to the island's inhabitants and visitors. This service will compete with the incumbent operator (Manx Telecom) and will allow greater choice and competition for the consumers.
The Mobile phone network consists of a number of sites that have a combination of equipment, such as panel antenna, that provide coverage in the vicinity and also transmission dishes that link sites together. Combined with other sites they are designed to provide a wider continuous network: this intern provides coverage throughout the Island. $C \& W$ will endeavour, when ever possible, to install their equipment on existing infrastructure or radio transmitters. The aim always is to minimise the visual impact of providing this new mobile phone network.
Where this is not possible and it is necessary to introduce the additional telecommunications infrastructure onto the Island this supporting statement will justify, both why the infrastructure is required and demonstrate that the pest possible available site has been identified, keeping visual amenity as a priority at all times.
It will also help to explain the decisions which led to the specific location being chosen and what alternatives were discounted.
A variety of supporting information may be included with each application but ultimately the C\&W aim is to minimise the number of new structures and reduce the visual impact of the network; whilst providing sufficient signal strength to provide coverage for customers to take advantage of the C\&W services that will become available.
The proposed development will consist of a 8 meter wooden telegraph pole, immediately in front of the tree line at OS grid 2839,7772. All electrical equipment will be housed inside 1.5 meter high, green cabinet surrounded by Manx Bank. This site has been carefully chosen maximum coverage down the Foxdale valley and in to Lower Foxdale as the local topography does not permit radio propagation in to the area around the Lower Foxdale from existing or proposed sites in the area.
The proposed site is located south of Foxdale village near the existing Manx Telecom mast, at OS grid SC 28391, 77722. The surrounding area is agricultural. The location of the site has been strategically considered to provide optimal coverage in the Foxdale. The area round Lower Foxdale currently has very low or no signal at all from the Cable \& Wireless networks.
Whilst the site provides good coverage to the target area it has also been chosen from a visual amenity perspective as the proposed installation is to be located directly in front of the Stoney Mountain Plantation to prevent sky lining of the mast.
This is the optimal site in the area from as it is only from this part of Foxdale that coverage in to both Foxdale Village and Lower Foxdale can be achieved. It will also provide good coverage on the eastern approach to Foxdale. The high natural elevation of this location mean that an 8 meter wooden telegraph pole can be used which will blend more naturally with the back drop of trees. Antenna mounted on the pole will also be painted brow mach the surrounding trees. The pole will not be sky lined as it will not be higher than the surrounding woodland. This combined with a Line of Site to Beary Park make, this the best possible location in our view.
As a result we feel that this is the most obvious choice for a site to be located.
This proposal has been discussed with Mr Ian Brooks at the planning department.
Cable \& Wireless do have planning permission to place antenna on the close by National Grid Mast, but this site has proven not to allow coverage of Lower Foxdale. Therefore this application has been submitted. Should it prove successful there will be no requirement for the development on the National Grid mast. Cable and Wireless are willing to enter into a binding agreement on this issue.
Recently the old Foxdale Cell on the existing National Grid Mast was disabled for several days and this resulted in the total loss of coverage in the area.
If this location is not supported there will still be a need for a site in this area and we feel the very best location has already been identified by way of this application. Without approval for this site we would have to look for an alternative site in this area.
The accompanying coverage plots provide good evidence of the coverage this site would provide and how it fits the proposed sites in the wider network.
In selecting this site the upmost care has been taken to reduce its visual impact. As the selected, proposed, location is against a back drop of woodland and the proposed mast would be a wooden pole, we feel its appearance would be sympathetic with its surroundings. All electrical equipment would be housed in a small green 1.5 meter high cabinet surrounded by a Manx Bank as we believe this would be the least intrusive option and closely mach its surroundings
The proposed site does not have a specific or restrictive designation under the 1982 Development Plan, nor does it fall within an area of restricted building height due to Air Safety.
This site has been designed in accordance with the current mainland UK Cellular operator's guidance for both Occupational \& Public ICNIRP compliance. Our design consultants are satisfied that this site design complies with the above guidelines and therefore a signed ICNIRP certificate is enclosed with this application.
1) Isle of Man Government Statutory Boards, Offices \& Agencies Plans 2006-2009 Volume 3 .
Page 25 under Communications Commission Aims \& Objectives Section: Objective: Social inclusion - to enhance access to services for the whole population: "We will enforce universal service obligations by telecoms operators with significant market power. They must provide telephone services throughout the Island," 2) Isle of Man Government Statutory Boards< Offices \& Agencies Plans 2005-2008. Volume 3 Page 20, under Communications Commission Aims \& Objectives Section. Objective; The built Environment -, to reduce the visual impact of telecommunications and radio infrastructure on the Island's landscape. "We will encourage increased mast sharing by broadcasters, under the Radio Masts Regulation Act Limitations". 3) The Town and Country Planning Act 1999.
Page 101"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, and the removal of redundant infrastructure. Exceptions to this policy would need to demonstrate a strategic national need, which cannot be otherwise secured by mast sharing or alternative locations."
Cable and Wireless believe the installation complies with the Islands Policies above.
To summarise, we consider that this is the optimum location and design for our proposed site.
The coverage plots help to demonstrate that there is a definite need for a site in this area. The siting and appearance or this proposed site has been carefully considered to best mach the existing surroundings and when viewed on the skyline, it will be insignificant.
If this application is granted Cable \& Wireless are prepared to enter into a binding agreement not to proceed with its existing planning permission to mount antenna on the new National Grid Mast in Foxdale.
Therefore the design proposed represents both the optimum planning/environmental and technical solution in this instance. We believe the development as proposed is in accordance with planning guidance as defined above, in that we would be re-using an existing site.
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