Parish councillors believe that if an application for a telecommunications mast in the Borrowdale valley was submitted for planning approval it would create a public outcry.
Members of Borrowdale Parish Council agreed to strongly object to a pre-application to erect a mast at Rowan Tree, Stockley Bridge, because of the area’s incredible natural beauty.
They believe that the public outcry, if this was to be recommended for approval, would be similar to that when it was suggested that the public phone box at Seathwaite be removed.
Parish clerk Becx Carter said that she had asked the applicant for further information on the geographical area that this new mast would cover but that query had not been responded to.
It was resolved by all present to object to the application on the following grounds:
- It would be sited in an incredible area of natural beauty/sensitivity;
- Access to the site is very rough and limited;
- The solar panels are very intrusive in the landscape and there is very little sunshine for three months of the year;
- If the application was submitted for approval there would be a public outcry.
Parish councillors also wanted to know what the business case was to justify the installation and whether ‘improvements’ are going to be required to the access route which would create more visual disturbance on the landscape.
Councillors also asked how many households or businesses, that did not have connectivity, would the mast benefit. They also wanted to know how the site was chosen and what alternatives were considered and why were they discounted.
It was pointed out that a blue light mast was recently installed near Longthwaite and the question was asked about why these services could not be integrated with this mast to prevent a proliferation of these unsightly structures in such a beautiful area.
Councillors also asked why services could not be provided to Seathwaite via extension of the broadband fibre to the village from Seatoller and then using repeater stations.
The clerk is to submit all of the council’s comments to the developer and send a copy to the Lake District National Park Authority which will rule on the application when it is submitted.
