Councillors to decide on mast
Public representatives on Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council will have the final say on whether a mobile mast will be erected near a primary school, crèche and playground on the Southside.The Cabinteely District Residents’ Association has been campaigning against a council decision to grant planning permission for the Vodafone mast to be erected on the Lodge House in Cabinteely Park.
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council originally granted planning permission for the mast last summer but after several objections from local residents the matter was appealed to An Bord Pleanala.
Two weeks ago, the board finally granted permission for the mast to the dismay of local residents who are stepping up their opposition because of fears for their health.
Deirdre Smith of the Cabinteely Residents’ Association told Southside People last week: “We are particularly concerned for the possible health effects on children attending the local girls’ primary school, St Brigid’s and for children playing in the playground in Cabinteely park.”
Ms Smith said residents had asked the six local councillors in the Ballybrack electoral area to table a motion withdrawing the council’s offer of a lease of local authority land to Vodafone.
This would prevent the phone company from erecting the mast until the outcome of the review of a Dáil report was completed, Ms Smith said.
If the report found that there were no adverse health implications, the residents would not object to the erection of the mast, she added.
The review of the report into non-ionising radiation from mobile phone handsets and masts is due to be completed in June of this year.
In the meantime it transpires that the mast will only get the go ahead if a majority of the 28 councillors vote in favour of leasing part of the site – which is on council property - to Vodafone.
Richard Shakespeare, the senior executive officer in the cultural and communications department of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, said that all disposals of land for a period of greater than 12 months are affected by a section 183 disposal.
“That is a reserved function,” he said. “The 28 elected members of the council have the right of disposal. The money generated from the masts is used for building playgrounds and is going into a project to build a further 27 playgrounds throughout the county.”
Cllr Dennis O’Callaghan (Lab) said last week that he was concerned about the close proximity of the mast to the lodge and the health implications that it could pose to residents.
“If the disposal of land comes in the form of a section 183 then I will most likely vote against it,” he said.
Cllr Larry Butler (FF) said that residents asked him not to support the mast application until the Dáil report was published.
“I will be voting against the erection of the mast on the basis that we should wait for the report,” Cllr Butler said.
However, Cllr Butler said he warned locals that if the council does not erect the mast the operators could “go across the road to a local business and get the mast just as easily”.
A spokesperson for Vodafone said anything that delays the establishment of their networks has an impact on their business and their customers.
“Our priority is to make sure that our customers can make and receive calls,” the spokeswoman said.
http://www.dublinpeople.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=711&Itemid=49
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council originally granted planning permission for the mast last summer but after several objections from local residents the matter was appealed to An Bord Pleanala.
Two weeks ago, the board finally granted permission for the mast to the dismay of local residents who are stepping up their opposition because of fears for their health.
Deirdre Smith of the Cabinteely Residents’ Association told Southside People last week: “We are particularly concerned for the possible health effects on children attending the local girls’ primary school, St Brigid’s and for children playing in the playground in Cabinteely park.”
Ms Smith said residents had asked the six local councillors in the Ballybrack electoral area to table a motion withdrawing the council’s offer of a lease of local authority land to Vodafone.
This would prevent the phone company from erecting the mast until the outcome of the review of a Dáil report was completed, Ms Smith said.
If the report found that there were no adverse health implications, the residents would not object to the erection of the mast, she added.
The review of the report into non-ionising radiation from mobile phone handsets and masts is due to be completed in June of this year.
In the meantime it transpires that the mast will only get the go ahead if a majority of the 28 councillors vote in favour of leasing part of the site – which is on council property - to Vodafone.
Richard Shakespeare, the senior executive officer in the cultural and communications department of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, said that all disposals of land for a period of greater than 12 months are affected by a section 183 disposal.
“That is a reserved function,” he said. “The 28 elected members of the council have the right of disposal. The money generated from the masts is used for building playgrounds and is going into a project to build a further 27 playgrounds throughout the county.”
Cllr Dennis O’Callaghan (Lab) said last week that he was concerned about the close proximity of the mast to the lodge and the health implications that it could pose to residents.
“If the disposal of land comes in the form of a section 183 then I will most likely vote against it,” he said.
Cllr Larry Butler (FF) said that residents asked him not to support the mast application until the Dáil report was published.
“I will be voting against the erection of the mast on the basis that we should wait for the report,” Cllr Butler said.
However, Cllr Butler said he warned locals that if the council does not erect the mast the operators could “go across the road to a local business and get the mast just as easily”.
A spokesperson for Vodafone said anything that delays the establishment of their networks has an impact on their business and their customers.
“Our priority is to make sure that our customers can make and receive calls,” the spokeswoman said.
http://www.dublinpeople.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=711&Itemid=49
rudkla - 31. Jan, 22:29
