City residents object to plan for two mobile phone masts

Two new mobile phone masts are planned to improve Three’s 5G coverage in Inverness. CK Hutchison Networks are handling the application for the mobile giant.

The bigger of the two masts, which will be around 65ft high, is planned for a site close to the Hawco Volkswagen garage on Harbour Road.

It is an area of the city surrounded by commercial properties, with no housing nearby.

The second is proposed for Inshes Road, closer to residential homes between McDonald’s and Dellness Way.

A statement from CK Hutchison Networks has acknowledged the difficulty in picking a suitable site which needs to be one that isn’t visually intrusive, while also providing its benefits.

It said: “The very nature of installing new 5G mast infrastructure within such an urban setting requires a highly-considered balance.

“There is an acute need for a new base station to provide effective service coverage. In this case, the height of the proposed street pole is the minimum required to bring the benefits of 5G to this area.”

Inshes and Milton of Leys Community Council has already objected to the application.

A statement from the group said: “Given the immense visual intrusion of a mast which will be nearly twice the height of adjacent buildings and street lights, the developers should notify the adjacent residential properties on Dellness Way, which are very close.”

One of the most controversial applications lodged across the Highlands this week is

Acorn Bioenergy’s plan to build an anaerobic digestion plant around a quarter of a mile from the Fearn airfield, west of Balintore in Easter Ross.

That plan has attracted 11 objections so far, many of whom are pilots.

Anaerobic digestion is an alternative way of composting food waste, while also producing renewable energy and avoiding carbon emissions.

A statement from Acorn Bioenergy said: “Not only is the plant compatible with existing land-use, but it is well placed to access its fuel source as it is surrounded by agricultural enterprise.”

Among the 17 objections are concerns about the detrimental effect it could have on the nearby airfield.

David Smith wrote: “I regularly use Easter Airfield and find this proposal alarming and dangerous to flight safety operations.

“This proposed complex so close to an active runway frequently used by light aircraft, private pilots and trainee pilots could result in catastrophic consequences.”

Another pilot, Ashley Johnston, added: “If this plant goes ahead, it will introduce several hazards to aircraft in the critical landing and taking off elements of flight.”

Permission is being sought for unusual-looking holiday lodges in Nairn.

Xafinity Pension Trustees are looking to build four holiday lodges and a house on land at Wester Lochloy.

According to its planning statement, the lodges will each have two bedrooms and an openplan living area.

It continues: “The lodges are designed to be

single-storey with a timber finish and glazed area to the front with access to the decked seating area.

“They will be set into the landscape with most of the existing woodland retained to provide a setting for the development.”

The proposal will involve cutting down trees, but replacement planting will be done to the south of

the site.

Acorn Bioenergy has high hopes for its new anaerobic digestion plant application.