Village hall chosen as site for telecoms mast

leader Councillor Neil Benny asked if anything had cascaded down to local level yet from the taskforce, but was “gobsmacked” when CI Marshall replied: “Nothing has cascaded to Stirling and Clackmannanshire ADP (Alcohol and Drugs Partnership). We did have a divisional group that met specifically to look at drugs deaths.”

Forth Valley area commander Chief Inspector Alan Gibson added: “Neither of us were at the [task force] meeting so we can’t speak to what was discussed and agreed. I understand the

Balquhidder’s village hall looks set to be the site of a nine-metre mast.

Arqiva have applied to Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park planners for permission to install the telecommunication pole on the south west gable of the building along with two ground based cabinets as part of their planned Smart Meter network.

The network is being created as part of the UK Government’s initiative to roll out smart electricity and gas meters to homes and small businesses across Great Britain between 2014 and 2020.

The applicants say the pole would project beyond the 6.2 metre ridgeline of the hall to a height of 7.85 metres. The antenna would be mounted at the top of the pole, bringing the overall height to nine metres.

In a submission to planners, the company said: “The site is located so that it can provide the required level of coverage to the properties it needs to serve, and the use of an innovatively designed slim line pole mounted antenna is similar to ancillary equipment found on rooftops, such as aerials. The design and appearance of the structure should, therefore, be acceptable.

“The social and economic benefits of the proposal would significantly outweigh any environmental impact in this instance. The site, and building based option, has been selected as it looks to present the optimum solution in terms of balancing environmental and operational considerations.

“There is no smaller, practicable, monopole design which will reduce the level of visual impact any further. The option for this site has been specifically designed to ensure that visual impact is minimised where possible.”

Among sites which Arqiva have ruled out as unsuitable, unavailable or no better than the chosen site were the village hall car park, Balquhidder Parish Church and Stronvar House among others.