The phone company made an application for a 12m-high telecoms mast at the garage earlier this year, sparking complaints from nearby residents, before it was then withdrawn.
In the latest planning application letter, MS Planning director Michael Stein said that Sure withdrew the original application because insufficient justification was provided to show it was a development of strategic importance
‘The cellular network for mobile phones and access to the internet are clearly matters of public and strategic interest,’ he said.
‘If a poor, unreliable, service is provided it can cause all sorts of problems for individuals or businesses in carrying out normal communications or research, and would put individuals and companies at a disadvantage to those in areas with good coverage.’
The new application looked at alternative sites, such as various sites around St Saviour’s reservoir.
But using the dam wall would see poor coverage along La Grande Rue and building a standalone tower in the car park would need large foundations, as well as a 25m structure in an area of biodiversity importance.
La Grande Mare driving range towers had insufficient height to cover the reservoir and Perelle areas, and the existing towers were not designed to take mobile antennas.
Another telecom operator has a site at the Driftwood Inn, but this would not maintain coverage for the Millennium Walk or improve it for La Grande Mare and La Houguette.
Le Mont Saint Garage continued to be considered to be best option.
‘[It] is the optimal location for addressing all coverage requirements, with a single monopole,’ Mr Stein said.
‘Sure currently operates a micro site at the garage, providing localised coverage. The proposal is to upgrade this to a 12m replica telegraph monopole, serving both Sure and Airtel customers.’
It would maintain coverage for the reservoir area, while improving coverage and capacity for Perelle, La Grande Mare, and La Houguette.
This would also allow the retirement of Sure’s existing mast site at the reservoir, remove the need for a new site based at La Grande Mare golf course, and allow the Airtel mast at the Driftwood Inn to be decommissioned.
The application stated that the visual impact of the proposed pole would cause a low level of harm to landscape character from a limited number of vantage points.
And when balanced against the overriding public interest in securing good mobile network coverage, the application should be approved, Mr Stein said.
‘The proposal is not for a “mast” it is a 320mm diameter pole (monopole),’ he said.
‘The monopole is brown and textured like a wooden pole.
‘Antennas are also to be painted brown or wrapped. It is essentially visually no different to the existing telegraph pole situated close to the junction of La Grande Rue and Rue du Hamel only some 50m away from the proposed monopole.
'On this basis, it cannot be deemed to have a harmful impact on any of the nearby neighbouring properties.’
Hedging can also be planted around the ground cabin to reduce the noise and visual impact.
‘The proposal represents the best practicable option, taking into account all relevant economic, social and environmental considerations, and there are no more suitable sites for the proposed development,’ Mr Stein said.
‘It is demonstrated sharing or co-location of facilities, buildings, apparatus and support structures is not practically possible, and the development would contribute to the maintenance and support of efficient and sustainable infrastructure.’
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