Dear Sir

For the purpose of my application for planning permission in respect of the proposed erection of a 8.5 metre telescopic mast, support pole and aerials at my property I enclose the following :-

1. Completed and signed application form
2. Certificate under Article 7.
3. Location plan (Scale 1:500)
4. Elevation Plan (Scale 1:200)
5. Photographs
6. Mast and Aerial Manufacturers Leaflets 
7. Schedule of neighbours reactions to the proposal

I have been involved with amateur radio for a hobby for over 17 years.   I have passed the necessary technical examinations to enable me to hold Department of Trade and Industry licence.   I also serve on two committees for the Radio Society of Great Britain, the national organising body for amateur radio.

The aerials which I have been using up to the present time have not been as efficient as I would have wished and these have limited my experiments and activities.    I now wish to overcome these limitations by having this purpose built mast to raise my transmitting aerial.    It is standard equipment used by radio amateurs throughout the world and I enclose a manufacturer’s leaflet giving details.     As the mast, with antenna rotator and antenna will cost over £ 1,500 it will be realised that I would not be proposing to spend this amount unless I felt it essential to do so to improve the efficiency of my system.

The ‘industry standard’ mast that most radio hobbyists would like to install is a 20m lattice mast.   Although this would physically fit in my garden and be very useful to me, I envisage that such an installation would be detrimental to the character of the area and to my neighbours’ enjoyment of their own properties.

Originally I had proposed to install a 10.5m tubular mast.   The reduction in height would reduce the efficiency of the aerial mounted on it but I foresaw this as a better compromise solution. This mast is narrower than a lattice mast, and I selected the model with the minimum retracted height of those in the range (a little over 4m) which from the enclosed drawings and photographs should not present a large visual impact to neighbours, as the surrounding trees are either of similar or greater height.

In July 2001 I prepared a pack of information for my neighbours showing all of the information regarding the mast and aerials, including the site plans and photographs, and also a draft copy of this covering letter.   I intended to visit my local neighbours in person, to explain my proposal which may have been very confusing to the lay-person, and have the chance to discuss any problems and come to a compromise solution if required. 

Unfortunately whilst I had left this pack with one neighbour for reading, it was taken by another neighbour, and parts of it shown to “the rest of the neighbours in the lane,” forming a near unanimous objection.   It was very embarrassing for me to then have to visit some of these neighbours.   It appears that they were not given the full information regarding the proposal, had been told that the application had already been submitted, and most importantly, had been told that the mast would be of a permanent fixed height of 11 metres !    Upon proper explanation I have subsequently been able to gain support from my immediate neighbours.

Most concerns regarding visual amenity have come from my immediate neighbours at number 23.   I have been to their garden to see their point of view, and I have also shown my neighbour the proposed mast location in my garden.    I then approached the mast manufacturer who has agreed to produce a specially designed mast, at extra cost to myself (and a greater compromise in efficiency) which has a smaller minimum retracted height of 3.35 metres.   The extended height of this special mast would be reduced from 10.5 to 8.5 metres.   Both of my immediate adjacent neighbours, and a third neighbour whom I have contacted are happy with this proposal.

If given planning permission for the mast I would like to periodically change the aerial mounted on it as part of the experimental nature of my hobby.   Any replacement aerial would be very similar in terms of visual appearance having a small number of horizontal elements that are normally between 20mm and 30mm in diameter, and so have a minimal visual impact.   When rotated the entire aerial would be contained within the boundaries of my property.

Historically I have practised my hobby for periods of time at weekends, and in good faith I state in the future I would be likely to only raise the mast and antenna for similar periods.   However, I would not like this to be made a condition of the planning application.   I would of course retract the mast when not in use.    I am also content for the permission to only be granted whilst I am the property owner.
I would also like my planning application to include the existing temporary aerials I have been using to date so that they can become permanent.   These comprise a 7.9m vertical antenna, maximum diameter 30mm, and a 6m steel pole plus wire which have both been hidden amongst foliage at the bottom of my garden.   Please refer to the enclosed photographs.  These aerials would complement the new aerial in my activities and I would like to continue using them even if I have planning permission granted for the new mast. 

I would like to mention I am employed as a Principal Engineer in the mobile telecommunications industry and on a daily basis am involved with the siting of new telecommunications masts,  and am very aware of the balance required when providing telecoms services to reduce the amount of visual obstruction to the general public.  I note that from Planning Policy Guidance 8: Telecommunications it indicates that masts used by amateur radio operators usually present few planning problems in terms of size and visual impact over a wide area.

Radio amateurs use only low power, which has to be used to the maximum advantage.   This requires extremely efficient aerials, and height above the ground and surrounding buildings and structures is one of the most important factors contributing to the efficiency of the system.   I have assessed the mast and it’s proposed siting as being the best I can achieve in my particular situation and where I feel it will cause no annoyance to my neighbours whom I have already approached with the fullest information,  three of whom have indicated to me, as can be seen from the enclosed schedule, that they have no objection to the proposed mast.

Summary of planning application proposal:

Telescopic tubular steel mast 3.35m retracted, 8.5m extended, width 90mm.
Rotator / stub pole mounted on top of mast.  Max length 0.5m.
6 element HF antenna mounted on stub pole
(Boom length: 3.5m   Turning radius: 4m  Element width max 30mm)
Steel pole support for wire antenna 7m, 60mm width
Vertical antenna 7.9m tall, 30mm width
(Please refer to photographs, plans and manufacturers leaflets.)

In summary, I hope I have demonstrated my proposal for an antenna mast will:

a) have minimal visibility from any public highway or thoroughfare in extended or retracted positions

b) be well screened from view from my neighbours when in the retracted position

and hence be of no detriment to the Green Belt, or the character of the area as a whole.

I trust that this letter and it’s enclosures provide you with adequate information in connection with my application, but if there is anything further which you or the members of the planning committee require, or would find of assistance when considering my application, do please let me know.   I will be very pleased to welcome you when you visit and inspect my property as part of the planning application process.

Yours faithfully,
 
 
 

Lee Volante