A Donegal County Councillor is calling on the council to aim to protect communities when granting planning permission for masts.
Cllr Ian McGarvey has expressed his anger over the planned erection of a large telecommunications mast in Ramelton after appeals to An Bord Pleanála were rejected this summer.
Permission has been granted to Cignal Infrastructure Ltd. for a 30m telecommunications mast at Drumonaghan Wood – a Coillte-owned woodland which has a number of popular walking trails.
Speaking at this week’s meeting of the Letterkenny Municipal District, Cllr McGarvey branded the granting of permission for the mast as “evil”.
The Ramelton Councillor has protested against the mast being located 100m from the town of Ramelton, its proximity to a local school, and its location in the wood.
“If this goes up in the morning. I feel it will be a scandal,” Cllr McGarvey said, as he pointed out that the Donegal County Development plan does not encourage masts on new sites.
With planning permission already granted for the Drumonaghan Wood structure and associated units, the council cannot re-consider the decision. The Planning Authority refused to comment on any specific planning applications.
However, in the case of future planning applications, Cllr McGarvey has urged the council to “have due regard for the protection that should be offered to communities and residents.”
