The head of planning at the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority says it is unlikely other mobile phone companies will install their equipment on new communications masts being erected in the Dales.
The authority has today released details of all recent applications for telecommunications masts amid concern that planning policies and decisions were hampering efforts to improve mobile phone coverage in the Dales.
In the past six months, the Home Office has applied to build five telecommunications masts in some of the most remote parts of the national park, as part of a new Emergency Services Network (ESN).
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It has contracted EE to build the masts.
Three out of the five applications have been approved, with two yet to be decided.
Over roughly the same period, EE has applied directly to upgrade or build five further masts in the park, under a separate strand of the ESN programme.
The ESN is expected to greatly improve the communications capability of the police, fire and ambulance services.
In addition to carrying the ESN equipment, all of the masts will be capable of carrying an EE antenna to bring coverage for its mobile phone customers in areas which are currently ‘not spots’.
YDNPA head of development management, Richard Graham, said: “The authority’s policies recognise the masts as essential infrastructure.
“It has been our job to work with the Home Office and EE to make sure the masts are designed and sited in such a way as to bring about maximum benefit while minimising their visual impact where we can.
“Much of the public debate is about whether the masts should be lattice towers or monopoles.
“Towers have a clear advantage, in that they are big enough to be shared by other commercial operators. But two linked considerations count against them.
“First, all the evidence suggests it is highly unlikely that other telecoms companies are going to want to step in to use these masts – because it just isn’t commercially viable for them to do so.
“Second, lattice towers have a greater impact on the landscape than monopoles.
“The key point is that all the masts will be capable of doing the job for the emergency services and carrying a commercial service for EE customers – if EE choose to make that investment.”
The following is a list of the five Home Office applications, with relevant details:
1.
Application summary: A 15m lattice tower on a concrete base with 3 antennas, 2 transmission dishes, 1 ground-based satellite dish and associated equipment and fences (case no: R/56/492).
Location: Land off the B6255 in Widdale
Decision: APPROVED on 21/12/17
2.
Application summary: A 15m monopole mast on a concrete base with 3 antennas, 2 transmission dishes, 1 ground-based satellite dish and associated equipment and fences (R/01/154).
Location: Land at high Seal Houses Farm, Arkengarthdale
Decision: APPROVED on 31/01/17
3.
Application summary: A 15m lattice tower on a concrete base with 3 antennas, 2 transmission dishes, 1 ground-based satellite dish and associated equipment and fences (C/55/69).
Location: Land at Thoragill Beck, Pennine Way, Malham Moor
Decision: APPROVED on 11/04/18
4.
Application summary: A 12m “telegraph pole” mast on a concrete base with 3 antennas, 2 transmission dishes, 1 ground-based satellite dish and associated equipment and fences (R/06/252).
Location: next to a barn off the B6270 at Crook Seal, west of Keld, on Birkdale Common in Muker Parish
Decision: NOT YET DECIDED
5.
Application summary: A 12.5m “telegraph pole” mast on a concrete base with 3 antennas, 2 transmission dishes, 1 ground-based satellite dish and associated equipment and fences (R/06/254).
Location: Crow Tree Farm near Gunnerside in Muker Parish
Decision: NOT YET DECIDED.
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