16 December 2025 · Delegated - A MORGAN, Interim Director of Planning and Building Control
Street Record, C1382, Ramsey, Isle Of Man, IM8 2bw
The proposal involved erecting two timber telegraph poles, each 9m tall (7-7.5m above ground) with 250-300mm diameter, on public footpaths adjacent to properties at Barrule Park, a residential estate of predominantly bungalows and chalet bungalows with open front gardens and underground services.
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The officer concluded that the 9m wooden poles and overhead cabling would introduce visually intrusive infrastructure into an open, uncluttered street scene of low-rise bungalows with no existing over…
General Policy 2
GP2(b,c,g) requires development to respect site surroundings, protect street scene character, and not adversely affect locality character. Officer assessed poles as incongruous in open bungalow street scene lacking overhead infrastructure, taller than ridges, causing unacceptable visual harm and 'visual oppression'; recent appeal precedents confirmed conflict where no prior poles exist.
Infrastructure Policy 3
IP3 balances communications infrastructure need against environmental impact, presuming against visually intrusive masts unless strategic national need demonstrated and alternatives pursued. Despite fibre rollout support, officer found no adequate justification for poles over underground (e.g. no sufficient ducting claimed but costs insufficient to outweigh harm), rendering intrusive in sensitive setting.
No objection; no significant negative impact upon highway safety, network functionality and/or parking
Ramsey Town Commissioners objected to the proposal due to visual impact and narrowing of footpaths, contrary to planning policies; individual residents from 16 and 15 Barrule Park also objected citing visual intrusion, precedent of underground services, and reliability issues.
Key concern: negative visual impact on street scene and character of the area contrary to planning policies
Ramsey Town Commissioners
ObjectionRamsey Town Commissioners have resolved to object to this proposal.; The proposed installation of wooden telegraph poles would result in a narrowing of the footpaths, both the poles and their associated cabling amongst the street scene due to the height, size and scale of the proposals would have a negative visual impact that adversely affects the character of the street scene; A balance must be struck between the need for new, evolving communications systems... and the impact that the necessary infrastructure will have upon the environment.; Other less visually intrusive development methods are available as demonstrated by the applicants own publicly available literature.
Resident of 16 Barrule Park
ObjectionThe installation of these poles and the associated overhead wiring would have a significantly negative visual impact on the estate.; It would be a significant retrograde step, both from the perspective of visual impact and system reliability, to allow telegraph poles and associated overhead wires; other options are available, poles are NOT 'required'
Resident of 15 Barrule Park
ObjectionBarrule Park is a mature open development where everything is situated underground and, as such needs to continue this way.; An important environmental factor is the impact on birds, possible entanglement, and disorientation; Fibre-optic cables suspended overhead are exposed to atmospheric conditions and, extreme weather
