CONTROVERSIAL plans to site three Tetra masts within Dartmoor National Park will be discussed by the National Park Authority's planning committee today.
The applications, by Airwave MMo2, have created a storm of opposition from the public on health and safety grounds. The proposed sites are at Trendlebere Down Reservoir, near Bovey Tracey, at Blackslade Farm on the edge of Widecombe-in-the-Moor, and at the telephone exchange in Yelverton.
The masts would form part of a new mobile communications system for the Devon and Cornwall police force.
Despite a recent police announcement that the system is to be delayed for up to two years, the three Dartmoor applications are still on the table. All three sites have been visited by DNPA members. Planning officers have recommended that the Trendlebere and Widecombe applications be refused, subject to the consideration of any revised plans, because each would have an adverse visual impact on its location.
Both Bovey Tracey Town and Widecombe Parish Councils have noted the health and safety concerns of residents. However, planners have recommended permission be granted for the Yelverton mast, although the parish council considered the mast to be visually intrusive.
Rod Newbolt-Young, a Widecombe parish councillor, said the majority of the village was opposed to the Blackslade Farm application. A large number of Widecombe residents were expected to attend the meeting.
Mr Newbolt-Young said: 'I find it frightening such a critical application could slip through the community almost unnoticed. Despite proper planning procedures being followed.'
Peter Francis, who lives within a mile of the Trendlebere site at Shewte Cross, asked why the applications were being considered now when the police had announced a two-year delay in introducing the system.
'What is the rush?' he said. 'I wish the DNPA would do what it is supposed to, and protect the national park. I'm not allowed to add 6in finials to my conservatory, yet they're talking about possibly adding a 17m mast to the landscape.'
Dr Grahame Blackwell, the research scientist who led last year's successful campaign against a Tetra mast in Lustleigh, said that the DNPA's reasoning on the issue could open a 'barn door' to other potentially damaging developments. He said:'It doesn't take a genius to see that refusal would allow the applicants to re-submit a slightly modified application – for which there would then be no grounds for refusal, on the basis of this proposed decision. Indeed, this course of action is virtually spelt out to the applicants in the agenda items as presented!'