Galway County Council has expressed concerns about the scale and prominence of a planned replacement mobile mast in Woodlawn.
Planning permission is being sought by Eircom Limited to replace a 10m wooden pole at the Eir Exchange in Carrowmore, Woodlawn, with a 21m high monopole.
A cover letter for the plans states that the existing mast is incapable of supporting the equipment needed to upgrade eir’s services in the area.
“The proposed structure will enable eir to improve services within Woodlawn and introduce ‘good’ 4G & 5G coverage to the village,” the application states.
However, the county council has requested more information about what other providers are available in the area, the extent of their coverage, and the feasibility of co-locating equipment on other providers’ existing sites.
The request for further information also notes that due to the “excessive scale & prominent siting” of the proposed mast next to a regional road, it has the potential to be “unduly obtrusive” and affect the amenities of the landscape.
The developer has been requested to carry out an Architectural Heritage Impact Assessment, as well as a Visual Impact Assessment of the proposal.
The council also sought more information about the potential flood risk at the site.
Two objections from local residents have been received by the council, stating that the location for the larger mast is too close to neighbouring homes and the street.
The request for further information was made in early November, and must be answered by the applicant within a six month period.
