Woodlandmast plansgoahead

Perth and Kinross Council has given a telecommunications giant the green light to site a mast amidst “ancient woodland”in Highland Perthshire, against the advice of the WoodlandTrust.

Mobile data firm EE was given the all clear to build a 25 metre high mast at Glen Errochty, between Tummel Bridge and Calvine, earlier this week.

However, in a letter to the local authority, the Woodland Trust’s campaigning volunteer coordinator Sarah Cooley described the site, located in Tummel Forest, as“irreplaceable.”

She said:“We wish to register an objection based on the direct loss of ancient woodland inventory maintained by Scottish Natural Heritage.

“Ancient semi-natural woodland is an irreplaceable resource and, along with other woodlands, hedgerows and individual trees, especially veteran trees of high nature conservation and landscape value, should be protected from adverse impacts resulting from development.

“Removal should only be permitted where it would achieve significant and clearly defined additional public benefits.

“We therefore maintain our objection unless the applicant commits to avoiding this unacceptable damage and loss of ancient woodland by moving the development outside and away from ancient woodland.”

Permission was first requested in January this year, and the local authority’s planners signed off the blueprints on Monday, May 21.

Work is expected to begin at the site in the near future.