Objection to mast in Ash Lane, Randwick

As regular blog readers will know I have requested that this planning application for a mast is withdrawn from the delegated schedule on grounds of visual impact. I am awaiting confirmation but below is my objection to the mast - see also previous blogs about correspondence and more issues raised.

Photo: Google earth of the site - to the left of the letter 'S' in Stroud

If anyone wants to make comment on the mast please do - the details are now on the District Council's website - see here.

Letter of objection

Re: Proposed Radio Base Station, Land Adjacent Ash Lane, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL6 6EX
S.08/0862/FUL

I also now wish to formally object to the planning application by Orange PCS Ltd. on the land at Ash Lane, Randwick. My objection is on grounds that this application, if successful, will have a seriously detrimental visual impact over a wide area. The mast although only 15 metres high will be visible from many locations in the area and will impact negatively on the ANOB, a Conservation Area, extensive National Trust Woodland area, Cotswold Way, and the nationally renown viewpoint at Ash Lane.

I would also like to note that the entrance to the site, as proposed, will provide an area which could encourage fly tipping and illegal parking which has been the experience at other gateways in the area. Indeed several areas have faced noise from people parking late at night and listening to music loudly and leaving litter from their take-aways.

Lastly I note that the Planning Inspectors comments in a recent appeal dismissal of development at near-by Glenfield in Ash Lane notes the 'qualitites that create a distinctive and most attractive local character' as the retention of 'natural looking traditional landscape feature' rather than 'something altogether more urban and artificial in appearance'. I would suggest that a mast on this landscape would be 'urban and artificial'.

While I acknowledge the need for telecommunication facilities I do not consider this is a suitable site on grounds of it's serious negative visual impact on a sensitive area. I also do not consider the evidence provided of possible alternative sites for this mast, is sufficient.

Cllr. Philip Booth,
Stroud District councillor for the Randwick, Ruscombe and Whiteshill ward