Agenda item

Members of the public Dr Brian Mathew, Owen Hurst and Tim Walton spoke against the application. Parish Councillor Pauline Lyons also spoke against the application, on behalf of Box Parish Councillor. 

The application was introduced by the Senior Planning Officer Charmian Burkey in a presentation which included photographs of the site and diagrams showing proposed plans for the construction of 4G mast. It was explained that the site was within the Green Belt, Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and also a Conservation Area and the setting of designated heritage assets. However, there was an identified need to provide telecoms coverage through Box tunnel especially for emergency purposes. The proposed installation was described as a 12 metre high mast with 4 cabinets. It was highlighted that the proposal had certification of compliance with national policy, regarding the public health safety of telecommunication masts. Therefore, despite public concerns, the potential health impact, was not a planning matter to be considered by the committee. Attention was drawn to the late items on this item.

A number of technical questions were asked by the committee. Notably, the issue of whether alternative solutions had been properly explored was raised by a number of Councillors, such as running cables through Box tunnel itself. Cllr Mollie Groom declared that she would be abstaining, having campaigned against a similar application previously, on grounds of impact to public health. It was also confirmed by officers, after questioning, that colour of the mast could be conditioned by officers.

Members of the public then had the opportunity to address the Committee, as detailed above.

The Local Division Member Cllr Sheila Parker spoke against the proposals, stating that the positioning of the mast on the narrow pavement, on  a busy road, would add to the risks to children, who use the route on the way to school. Cllr Parker also referred to two petitions against the application, which had received over 400 signatures combined.

In the debate that followed, an initial proposal by Cllr Peter Hutton, to approve the officers recommendation, with two additional conditions regarding the restriction of further cabinets and the colour of the mast itself was not seconded.

Cllr Toby Sturgis proposed that the application be deferred, until additional information was provided, as to the efficiency and necessity of the mast in the location sought, along with an explanation of why cabling through the tunnel could not be used, as well as other options. This was seconded by Cllr Jacqui Lay. This motion was debated and approved by the Committee.

RESOLVED:

To defer for 1 cycle for officers to provide additional technical information regarding:-

·        Line of sight through Box Tunnel and the proposed location of the mast;

·        Alternative locations considered/ investigated including mast sharing and use of Network Rail land and facilities;

·        Technical details and constraints information as to the use of Box Tunnel / cabling as alternative proposals;

·        Clarification as to why enhanced emergency services coverage in the tunnel is necessary over and above Network Rail communications technology.