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At West Kimmeragh Fm Bride Isle of Man
Planning Application Supporting Statement
16 December 2013
Steven Allan Mobile Network Engineer Sure Isle of Man Ltd
Sure IOM REF IM120 West Kimmeragh
Received 17/12/13 1391488 DEPARTMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING AND BUILDING CONTROL Town and County 17/12/13 13:00 AM 00001 Initials
As a licensed Mobile operator on the Isle of Man, Sure IoM Limited (Formally Cable and Wireless IoM Limited) are continually striving to deliver a high quality mobile experience for all our customers.
We have completed building the telecommunications sites identified in our initial build plan, and our network development is now moving into a new phase where we are looking to add additional 4G capabilities to our mobile sites in line with the recently awarded 4G licence.
The Sure Mobile network consists of a number of sites that have panel antennas that provide the mobile coverage to users’ handsets. These sites utilise the Sure Core network to connect the sites back to our network infrastructure. This is usually via microwave dishes.
Sure will endeavour, whenever possible, to install our equipment on existing infrastructure or radio transmitters. Where this is not possible, and it is necessary to introduce additional telecommunications infrastructure onto the Island, this supporting statement will justify both why the infrastructure is required and demonstrates that the best possible available site has been identified, keeping visual amenity as a priority at all times. The aim is always to minimise the visual impact of our developing network.
It will also help to explain the decisions which led to the specific location being chosen and what alternatives were discounted.
West Kimmeragh Farm is an existing Sure Mobile Site utilising the former MEA communications Hut and dual wooden pole mast, our proposal is to removed the existing 20 meter wooden poles and replace them with a 6 Meter lattice tower complete with 2 communications dishes and 2 x GSM/3G/4G panels.
The West Kimmeragh Mobile is an existing Sure Mobile site built on a former MEA communications site. The site comprised a brick and render hut with 2 x 20 meter wooden poles as masts.
Satellite image showing the location of the proposed mast.
As this is an upgrade of an existing site as such no other sites have been considered
This proposal has been discussed with Mr Ian Brooks at the Planning Department.
Initial conversion of this site from its forma use to a Sure Mobile phone site where carried out under planning application 08/00637/B granted 8th October 2008
The West Kimmeragh site provides the only viable coverage in to Andreas village, to meet IOM government 4G licence requirements this site must be made 4G capable,. With the move to 4G the existing masts are not suitable for the mounting of tri band antenna and additional LOS dishes. Additional LOS dishes are necessary to support the back haul capacity needed to support new technologies. In addition the existing wooden poles are sky lined and highly visible over a wide area.
The existing wooden poles are sky lined and highly visible over a wide area. Proposed lattice tower will be significantly less visually intrusive on the skyline
The site is our existing communication base station as this provides a good Line of sight in to Andreas. We believe that removal of the existing 20 m wooden poles and there replacement with a 6 m lattice tower will significantly improve the visual amenity of this Mobile Phone site.
This site has been designed in accordance with the current mainland UK Cellular operator's guidance for both Occupational & Public ICNIRP compliance. Our design team are satisfied that this site design complies with the above guidelines ICNIRP certificate will be unchanged from our initial site development.
Report of the Council of Ministers: A review into the health impacts of mobile phone masts in the Isle of Man – June 2009
"Emergency Situations - The introduction of mobile technology has brought many benefits in the ability to contact the Emergency Services in emergency situations such as road traffic accidents and the reporting of crime. This is particularly relevant in rural areas where there may be no access to fixed-line telephone services.
Health Benefits - With widespread use of mobile phones, we are no longer dependent on landlines and help can be secured via mobile phones.
Economic Benefits - Mobile phone technology has facilitated communication; it is no longer necessary to wait for a worker to return to their office to contact that person. This shortens time delays and decision making. It would be difficult to quantify the indirect economic benefits but the fact that modern day business is highly reliant on mobile phone technology provides ample testimony to the economic benefits.
Convenience and Reassurance - An issue which is self-evident is that mobile phones have improved the quality of life, removing barriers to communication. Mobile phone calls and 'texts' (SMS messages) are extensively used in social situations and many teenagers of today cannot imagine a life without mobile phones. Mobile phones also provide reassurance for parents and carers by helping them to maintain contact as required with their children. Again, it is difficult to quantify the benefits of this but it is likely to enhance the quality of life of all those involved."
http://www.gov.im/lib/docs/cso/mobilephonemastscominreport.pdf
"Telecommunications infrastructure and services are key facilities in an island that prides itself on, amongst other things, its prowess in e-commerce. They are essential to support our finance industry and to connect all members of our population with each other and to the wider world."
Communications Commission Aim – Telecommunications
"To support the development of high quality telecommunications and digital communications technology for the use of Island businesses and residents.
Encourage continued telecommunications infrastructure upgrade."
http://www.gov.im/lib/docs/cso/plan/2011/cc_sdp2011.pdf
Objective: The Built Environment – to reduce the visual impact of telecommunications and radio infrastructure on the Island’s landscape "We will: Encourage increased mast sharing by broadcasters, under the Radio Masts Regulation Act limitations." http://www.gov.im/lib/docs/government/plan2005/communicationscommissionbusinessp.pdf
"A balance must be struck between the need for new, evolving communications systems to satisfy residential and business demand and the impact that the necessary infrastructure will have upon the environment. Measures which may help to achieve a satisfactory balance will include a presumption against visually intrusive masts in sensitive landscapes, the encouragement of mast sharing by different operators, and the removal of redundant infrastructure. Exceptions to this policy would need to demonstrate a strategic national need, which cannot be otherwise secured by mast sharing or alternative locations."
http://www.gov.im/lib/docs/transport/planning/plan/strategicplanfinalversiontoty.pdf
Sure IOM Ltd believes that this installation complies with the Islands Policies above.
We consider this installation an ideal solution to provide improved telecommunications infrastructure for the local business and residential community – both through increased, upgraded mobile phone coverage, and a better core transmission network across the island.
A lightweight mast that has been chosen will allow the upgrade of the site to 4G and support the increased requirement for transmission back haul. In addition the shorter lattice mast will significantly improve the visual impact of the site.
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