ANGRY neighbours are opposing an amateur radio enthusiast’s proposals to erect an aerial mast at his home.
They attended a meeting of Appleton Parish Council to object to an application for permission to erect the mast at a house in Littlecote Gardens.
Residents claimed two masts had already been erected at the house and were having a visually damaging impact on ancient woodland, owned by the Woodland Trust, at the rear of the property.
The council agreed to object to the proposal.
ANGRY neighbours are opposing an amateur radio enthusiast's proposals to erect an aerial mast at his home.
Residents oppose radio mast
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
8 Comments
I am the applicant and I welcome the opportunity to reply to the article published above. There seems to be an amount of exaggeration attached to the above report which should really be rectified.
Having spoken to the Parish Council, there was only one immediate neighbour (not neighbours) who attended the Parish Council meeting to complain and that neighbour has certainly no reason to be ANGRY. I have paid £150 to make an application and the neighbour should object on reasonable grounds as they see fit.
I have applied for permission to erect a radio amateur antenna. I have not requested permission to erect a mast of any sort. I do not and have never had any masts erected at my house. There is great fever about the recent 02 mast application in the area in which I do not wish to be caught up. I want to erect an 40mm wide aluminium pole to the rear of my property, not a mast of any type. I did have an antenna on a fibreglass pole attached to the side of my house for a short time but this has been removed. The antenna for which I have requested permission has been used as a temporary structure over a period of 4 months prior to my application.
The antenna is shielded by trees and cannot be seen without significant effort from the treeline behind my house. The Woodland Trust area terminates within 4 metres of my boundary and the intended location of my antenna is neither near to nor visible from the woodland area.
The Parish Council have also objected on other grounds not published here but have agreed to investigate the substance of the evidence provided on which this area of complaint was made.
I requested and have been visited by a senior member of the Warrington Council who has agreed that my application is a reasonable one. I would invite anybody who has any interest to contact me and visit my property to satisfy themselves of the true situation. I have made a true and open application and I trust it will be decided honestly on facts rather than untruths, scaremongering or exaggeration.
David, many years ago (in the early 80’s) when the CB radio craze was in full swing, masts, antennas, poles; call them what you will, sprouted up all over town. Most were harmless, but a few had all sorts of amplifiers or boosters attached and when the user pressed the mic button, half of the TV signals within a 400 metre radius turned to mush!!. As you are probably aware, the government of the day nailed that craze by banning AM units and allowing just a small bandwidth on the FM frequency. I am just interested to know if your equipment has the same effect on electrical appliances as the old CB stuff? If not, you obviously have a very miserable neighbour!!
Mr Given is correct. Only one neighbour attended the meeting, but claimed to be representing other neighbours. Whether or not the neighbour had reason to be angry I would not know, but they certainly WERE angry. A lengthy debate ensued which, had it been reported in full would doubtless have pleased Mr Given even less so it is incorrect to say the report exaggerates. Quite the reverse, in fact. I too hope the application is dealt with honestly and fairly. I would not know if there have been any untruths or scaremongering involved. But if there has been any exaggeration it was not in the report
Baz
There is a distinct difference between the ‘old CB stuff” and that used by amateur radio enthusiasts. Amateur radio operators have to pass a stringent series of examinations which include the cause and avoidance of interference to other users of wireless equipment. Amateur radio operators are then licensed to operate by OFCOM. There is no reason why an amateur radio operator can not operate without causing any interference and we are required to be responsible in its avoidance.
I should be noted that I have contacted ALL of the neighbours in my vicinity and asked them two questions. (Nºs 30, 31, 22, 23 & 27a)
1. Have I caused you ANY electrical interference – answers no in all cases
2. Have you spoken to the objector re my application – answer no in all cases
Hence there is exaggeration in the claim that that neighbour was representing others. There is also exagerration and scaremongering with the use of the word mast and that I was causing interference to several neighbours. This formed part of the objection raised by the Parish Council and was submitted by them on my neighbours word but without evidence to back it up.
I have been transmitting from my property for just less than 5 years and have had no complaints regarding interference during that time. It has only appears to have become an issue since I made my application. I would welcome the reporting of any interference to either me or the proper authorities (OFCOM). This because it is unlikely that I am the cause of interference which could, can and does come from many sources. Most interference, from any source, is easily rectified by responsible people.
I am an innocent party who has made an application to allow furtherence of my hobby. I wish I had known the process and would certainly have made representation to the Parish Council in order to defend the lenghty debate which ensued, which I assume was somewhat one sided.
I have no wish for any dispute with my neighbour and will reserve comment on the likelyhood of your final statement.
I repeat my offer to those interested – please come and look – base your judgement of fact.
I shall not comment further, as the decision as to whether my application is approved or not will be decided by the due process of the procedure.
Regards
David
After reading the report residents oppose radio mast I have come to the conclusion that this is a typical over exaggeration of a story to make it news worthy by the media in using emotive words and parses like Masts, damaging impact, ancient woodland,
When all a guy is trying to do is erect a simple Arial (not masts) in his own garden to further his hobby and is going about it in the correct manner in applying for planning permission and inviting his neighbours to view and comment also asking and offering to resolve any matters arising, what more can the lad do, live and let live, good luck with your application David.
On behalf of Warrington Amateur Radio Club I wish to voice support for our member David Given. Proper application has been submitted for his antenna (aerial) which is by no means described as a ‘mast’. The application should not be confused by grouping it in the same context as issues involving mobile phone mast issues.
This is merely a private individual pursuing a hobby in his own back garden. There will be no impact on the health of those living nearby.
David has given much consideration to precisely where he plans to site the antenna in order to minimise its appearance to his neighbours.
There is a quoted advice for house buyers that “You buy a house and its land NOT the View”. No person owns the view from his home and realistically things do change.
The issue of alleged interference is a matter for the radio licensing agency Ofcom. The most common outcome of their investigations find that the complainants receiving equipment is faulty, more often than not old or poor coax leads to the television. In this case David Given has already offered to rectify any defective equipment his neighbours have at his own cost, the skills to effect such remedies are included in the training all radio amateurs undertake, the obligation to pay for new equipment is not that of the radio amateur, so David has already gone the further mile in trying to be a good neighbour.
The Warrington area can boast a higher concentration in numbers of radio ‘hams’ than most other parts of the country and as a group we try to be useful members of the community we offer training time for youth through scout groups and the like, we offer our services during large events such as marshalling at charity walks and we remain on available standby to augment the emergency services during time of disaster most of this effort goes unsung and that is how we like it.
Please, please try and be objective when considering the issue.
Paul Carter – G7ODJ
Hon. Sec. Warrington A.R.C.
Bill,
I can assure you all the words you quote, mast, ancient woodland, damaging impact, were in fact used at the meeting. If ever a story was NOT exaggerated, this was it. But that is not to say there was no exaggeration in the debate. That I would not know – and neither would you
David Given, excellent news I have M3 and 2E0 call signs and have erected a 5mtr mast to attach 2 antennas, yes you guessed it a neighbour was upset, I have had no help from the council at all but in the 3 months of the first comment (5 months after it went up) I have had 18 emails from the planning department harassing me. I am interested in your aerial as I stated a mast to the council and this is presumably why I had to fill out an online form which took forever then told to apply for a permit which I have filled out all forms and still getting harassing emails from council. Could you offer any advice on this project it is chained to a tree and very sturdy I can climb it , but technically not a structure or is it? Should I change it to an aerial ??? I welcome your feedback. 2E0FXP steve