Friday 16 March 2007

O2 seek planning for phone antenna in Wicklow

Mobile phone company O2 have applied for planning permission to install a 21 metre antenna at Ballinaskea, beside the N11 north of Arklow.

The company initially applied to build the antenna last November, but their application was rejected by Wicklow County Council because it was incomplete.

The application is for the installation of a 21 metre monopole mast carrying cellular antennas and radio links, a small compound surrounded by security fencing and an access track to the site.

O2 were recently granted Arklow Town Council permission for a similar antenna in the Meadowvale Estate.

The Town Council moved to limit the number of separate masts popping up around Arklow by stipulating that any further antennas would need to be designed so other networks could use the same antenna.

But the Ballinaskea mast comes under Wicklow County Council's jurisdiction and planners will decide on the application by April 24.

Wicklow county councillor Nicky Kelly said the country was 'saturated with masts'.

'Everyone realises we need a certain amount of masts, but for health and aesthetic reasons, and particularly us being the garden of Ireland, there are too many here.'

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