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Daily Record
17-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Plan for 'five storey' telecoms mast in West Lothian delayed over concern for public artwork
There was cross-party doubt at proposals that the pole -the height of a five-storey building - which is to replace an existing one nearby could not be built on the same spot. Plans to build a 56ft telecoms mast next to a piece of public art in Uphall have been stalled by councillors. There was cross-party doubt at proposals that the pole -the height of a five-storey building - which is to replace an existing one nearby could not be built on the same spot. Councillor Willie Boyle said the plan was more about saving money and added ' no quarter' had been given to the amenity of the site. The community council said the mast would tower over existing trees, be too close to the artwork, and could affect local residents. Wendy McCorriston, head of Development Management, told the Development Management Committee that the proposed 17m telecoms mast was earmarked to be built 27ft away from the 15m high mast it is set to replace. The applicant was asked by planning officers whether the siting of the new mast could be on the precise footprint of the existing one but they were told this was not technically feasible because of the location of existing cabinets, HSE requirements and continuation of mobile phone service provision during construction works. It was necessary to maintain emergency signals while the work was being carried out, she added. The site in East Main Street, Uphall is on the north side of the street, alongside the cemetery. Utility company Dalcour Maclaren's plan would see the new mast built closer to Above and Below, an artwork which celebrates Uphall's transition from an agricultural village to become the heart of the shale mining industry. Local councillor, Labour's Tony Boyle, cast doubts on assertions that one mast would need to stay operational while another was built. There is another mast already on the site unaffected by the proposals. He said: 'I hear what they said but there's two masts there, surely the other mast could serve the emergency services. I find that difficult to believe.' Mrs McCorriston replied: 'We have asked the operator. It's probably possible that there's a technical way around that. It is obviously for members to determine if they feel they haven't got enough information or if the visual impact outweighs service provision.' The SNP's councillor Willie Boyle told the meeting the existing cabins at the foot of the telecoms masts were an eyesore. He added: 'I have an issue with this. I hear what Tony Boyle is saying, and the Community Council. 'What concerns me is when you look at the detail this isn't just another mast there's new cabins going in here. I'm minded to move refusal because of the state of the street with what's existing. These cabins are an eyesore. There's graffiti on them. The companies don't maintain the cabins; they are just a convenient box to house equipment. 'There's no quarter given here to the local amenity or the community. I'm with Tony in as much as I don't believe that either. What we are looking at is cost here. Everything can be done. It's about cost, it's about quick and convenient, about what they get away with elsewhere. 'Rather than go to refusal, maybe we should go to a continuation and have them here to justify this. That would be another option.' Mrs McCorriston said: 'Refusal might be more appropriate, it still allows right of appeal.' Conservative group leader Damian Doran-Timson supported Councillor Boyle's call adding: 'I'd be more minded to do a continuation so we could ask the applicant to be here. ' Chairing the DMC Councillor Harry Cartmill said : 'I think there could be a compromise to take it away from the sculpture. It seems a pity that it would be overshadowed by this mast.' He added that a continuation would ' give the applicants a chance to listen to our concerns and give us a chance to listen to them.' In his objection Jonathon Moore of Uphall Community Council said: 'The 17 metre high monopole will be significantly higher that the trees at that location. The new monopole is very close to the 'Above and Below' public art which symbolises the heritage of the shale oil Industry in the area. He added: 'Should the transmitter and associated equipment be of much higher power and operate at higher frequencies, its proximity to residential properties would give us significant cause for concern - particularly around possible health issues resulting from higher output 5G masts.'
Edinburgh Reporter
17-07-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
Plans for 56ft telecoms mast next to public art stalled
Plans to build a 56ft telecoms mast next to a piece of public art in Uphall have been stalled by councillors. There was cross-party doubt at proposals that the pole -the height of a five-storey building – which is to replace an existing one nearby could not be built on the same spot. Councillor Willie Boyle said the plan was more about saving money and added 'no quarter' had been given to the amenity of the site. The community council said the mast would tower over existing trees, be too close to the artwork, and could affect local residents. Wendy McCorriston, head of Development Management, told the Development Management Committee that the proposed 17m telecoms mast was earmarked to be built 27ft away from the 15m high mast it is set to replace. The applicant was asked by planning officers whether the siting of the new mast could be on the precise footprint of the existing one, but they were told this was not technically feasible because of the location of existing cabinets, HSE requirements and continuation of mobile phone service provision during construction works. It was necessary to maintain emergency signals while the work was being carried out, she added. The site in East Main Street, Uphall is on the north side of the street, alongside the cemetery. Utility company Dalcour Maclaren's plan would see the new mast built closer to Above and Below, an artwork which celebrates Uphall's transition from an agricultural village to become the heart of the shale mining industry. Local councillor, Labour's Tony Boyle, cast doubts on assertions that one mast would need to stay operational while another was built. There is another mast already on the site unaffected by the proposals. He said: 'I hear what they said but there's two masts there, surely the other mast could serve the emergency services. I find that difficult to believe.' Mrs McCorriston replied: 'We have asked the operator. It's probably possible that there's a technical way around that. It is obviously for members to determine if they feel they haven't got enough information or if the visual impact outweighs service provision.' The SNP's councillor Willie Boyle told the meeting the existing cabins at the foot of the telecoms masts were an eyesore. He added: 'I have an issue with this. I hear what Tony Boyle is saying, and the Community Council. 'What concerns me is when you look at the detail this isn't just another mast there's new cabins going in here. I'm minded moving refusal because of the state of the street with what's existing. These cabins are an eyesore. There's graffiti on them. The companies don't maintain the cabins; they are just a convenient box to house equipment. 'There's no quarter given here to the local amenity or the community. I'm with Tony in as much as I don't believe that either. What we are looking at is cost here. Everything can be done. It's about cost, it's about quick and convenient, about what they get away with elsewhere. 'Rather than go to refusal, maybe we should go to a continuation and have them here to justify this. That would be another option.' Mrs McCorriston said: 'Refusal might be more appropriate; it still allows right of appeal.' Conservative group leader Damian Doran-Timson supported Councillor Boyle's call adding: 'I'd be more minded to do a continuation so we could ask the applicant to be here. ' Chairing the DMC Councillor Harry Cartmill said: 'I think there could be a compromise to take it away from the sculpture. It seems a pity that it would be overshadowed by this mast.' He added that a continuation would 'give the applicants a chance to listen to our concerns and give us a chance to listen to them.' In his objection Jonathon Moore of Uphall Community Council said: 'The 17-metre-high monopole will be significantly higher that the trees at that location. The new monopole is very close to the 'Above and Below' public art which symbolises the heritage of the shale oil Industry in the area. He added: 'Should the transmitter and associated equipment be of much higher power and operate at higher frequencies, its proximity to residential properties would give us significant cause for concern – particularly around possible health issues resulting from higher output 5G masts.' By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
Indian Express
11-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Months after govt slashed grant, organisation under rural ministry flags unpaid medical claims, delayed salaries
Facing non-payment of medical claims and salary delays following the Centre's move to slash its grant, the employees' body of the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR) has urged Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to intervene. The NIRDPR is the apex institute for training and research in rural development and functions as a think tank for the Rural Development Ministry. Representatives of the NIRDPR employees' body and academic association met Chouhan during his visit to Hyderabad on Monday. Some BJP leaders including V Sreedhar Reddy, General Secretary of Telangana's Ranga Reddy district, accompanied the representatives. Reddy told The Indian Express that they submitted a letter to the minister that highlights the issues faced by the employees after the grant-in-aid to the NIRDPR from the financial year 2025-26 was stopped. The letter mentions four issues: non-payment and delay in payment of salaries to the employees and Self Help Group (SHG) workers; 'forcing' employees to give an undertaking that they are taking salaries as loan which will have to be repaid; non-payment of medical claims, children education allowance, LTC claims, among others; and 'non-transparent' and 'unaccountable' functioning of the Director General and no dialogue by the DG with employees regarding service conditions post 'disengagement'. Disengagement means the discontinuation of grant-in aid. The Centre has slashed the NIRDPR budgetary allocation to just Rs 1 lakh for financial year 2025-26 from Rs 73.68 crore in revised estimates of the 2024-25 financial year and Rs 75.69 crore in 2023-24. In its letter, the NIRDPR Academic Association has urged the minister to take action. The letter has also urged the minister to nominate two Ministry of Rural Development officers as Deputy Director General in-charge and Registrar in-charge at the NIRDPR. NIRDPR focuses on training, capacity building, research and policy advocacy, and runs academic programs in regular and distance modes. The courses include Diploma in Rural Development Management and Tribal Development Management.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Plan to expand recycling facility among applications to Bexley Council
A plan to increase recycling capacity by 70,000 tonnes is among applications submitted to Bexley Council. The proposal, by Mr L Bicaku, involves extending the facility at Century Wharf Industrial Estate, Crayford Creek Road, Crayford. It includes both upward and outward extensions to the existing building. According to the public notice, the aim is to improve efficiency and quality at the site, as well as enable the facility to process an additional 70,000 tonnes per year of mixed recyclables. The application, reference 25/00884/FULM, can be viewed on the council's planning portal. Public comments must be submitted by June 4. In a separate application, Mr R Manak has requested permission to alter the footprint and elevations of a previously approved development at Aysgarth, Cross Lane, Bexley. The site falls within the Parkhurst Conservation Area and the application is being made under Section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. The original permission, reference 24/01696/FUL, was for the erection of two single-storey side extensions following the demolition of an existing garage and conservatory, and the incorporation of dormer windows to the northwest and southwest roof slopes. The current application, reference 25/00910/FUL, seeks to vary condition 2 (approved drawings) of the original permission. The full details of both applications can be viewed online at: Written responses for the Aysgarth application must be submitted by June 5 and addressed to Development Management, Civic Offices, 2 Watling Street, Bexleyheath, Kent, DA6 7AT. The council has advised that, under the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1995, any response will be made available for public inspection. It has also noted that, as the Aysgarth application relates to a domestic dwelling, if the application is refused and the applicant appeals under the Householder Appeal Service, only observations made on this application will be passed to the Planning Inspectorate. There will be no further opportunity to make representations at the appeal stage. Richard Turek, head of development management at Bexley Council, signed both public notices. The notices were published on May 14. Members of the public can view and comment on both applications via the council's planning portal. Further details on how to submit comments are available on the council's website. Want to find out all the latest planning applications, alcohol licensing applications and planned road closures near you? Then search the Public Notice Portal. The Public Notice Portal is owned and operated by the News Media Association, the voice of UK national, regional, and local newspapers in all their print and digital forms. NMA members include nearly 900 local and regional news titles which reach 40 million people across the length and breadth of the country each month. Many of these publications have served their communities for centuries and remain the most reliable source of verified news and information. Created by local news publishers and supported by the Google News Initiative, the portal carries statutory public notices published in local newspapers and is the fastest and most effective way of finding out what is happening in YOUR neighbourhood. Public Notice Portal Find, save and share Public Notices that affect you in your local area
Irish Examiner
08-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Plans for Cork office block to be converted to IPAS accommodation
Plans have been submitted to change an office block on Cork's Monahan Road into residential accommodation for International Protection Applicants. An application has been made to An Bord Pleanála for The Cube building, an office block located near Cork's docklands, to be used for potential temporary housing for refugees and asylum seekers. Development Management is seeking to understand if a temporary change of use of the basement, ground, first, second and third floors of the Cube building from office to residential accommodation for International Protection Applicants is an exempted development. If it is an exempted development, the change of use would not require planning permission from Cork City Council. The Cube building was constructed in 2007 and was formerly known as 'Phoenix House'. Regus took over the top floor of the building and has since expanded to offer co-working spaces and offices in the building. Companies Dassault Systems and Microchip also have offices in the building. The application to An Bord Pleanála is due to be decided by August 27.
