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STV News
21-07-2025
- Business
- STV News
Plans to build 56ft telecoms mast beside 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 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 are 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 than 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.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Scotsman
19-07-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
West Lothian councillors stall plans for 56ft telecoms mast next to public work of art
Plans to build a 56ft telecoms mast next to a piece of public art have been stalled by councillors. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Under the proposal for Uphall, West Lothian, the new mast - the height of a five-storey building – would be installed 27ft away from an existing, slightly shorter mast it is due to replace. The plan put forward by utility company Dalcour Maclaren 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. Telecoms poles in East Main Street, Uphall. A new pole would be placed close to the public artwork, titled Above and Below. | Google Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But at the council's told the Development Management Committee, there was cross-party doubt about why the pole could not be built on the same spot as the current mast. 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. 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. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The site in East Main Street, Uphall, is on the north side of the street, alongside the cemetery. Local Labour councillor 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.' Wendy McCorriston, head of Development Management, said: '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.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad SNP councillor Willie Boyle told the meeting the existing cabins at the foot of the telecoms masts were an eyesore. He added: '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.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 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 meeting, 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.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 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.'
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
STV News
17-07-2025
- General
- STV News
Plans for battery storage site in countryside given go-ahead despite objections
Councillors have backed plans for a battery energy storage site (BESS) in open countryside a few minutes drive from Bathgate and Armadale town centres despite concerns over the fire risks. The Development Management Committee agreed to back the facility in the interests of reducing long-term carbon emissions. However, councillors accepted recommendations that the site's operational lifespan should be only 30 years rather than the 50-year lifespan, which would have seen the facility operating until 2075. In a written objection, Colin Frame of Bathgate questioned whether the fire suppression systems outlined in the plans would be enough. He said: 'Owing to the prevailing south westerly wind, toxic smoke and fumes from a fire at the site would quickly end up over the nearby housing on the west side of Bathgate, not to mention Windyknowe Primary School to the south, putting residents' health at risk. 'The 2020 fire at a Merseyside BESS site took over 50 hours to extinguish. This type of fire is clearly extremely dangerous and difficult for the Fire and Rescue Services to deal with. 'Should the wind be coming from the east, traffic using the A801 would be immediately affected and Armadale residents also at risk.' Planning officers said the rural location of the 'relatively small site' was acceptable. The land is north-west of Middlerigg Farm in between Bathgate and Armadale, just off the A801. The site is around eight acres and will store up to 49.9MW. Planners added: 'The proposal includes the installation of battery energy storage containers, inverter panels (2.0m in height) with transformer and air handling unit panels (both 2.5m in height), a district/customer substation, control room, water tank, security lighting with cctv and a SUDs basin, as well as two swales for surface water drainage.' More than 100 trees, described as mainly roadside shrubbery, will be taken down but the developers promised to plant 200 trees around the site to provide additional screening. In papers to the DMC planners said: 'The land is not, however, classed as prime agricultural land, albeit it is a countryside belt. Given the site's topography, the application site will not be highly visible from main vantage points.' Councillors accepted that the applicants Galileo 10 Ltd had submitted a Fire Safety Plan. Councillor Tony Boyle said: 'Looking at the objection, I am satisfied that Scottish Fire and Rescue has said that it conforms to all standards. Chairing the meeting, Harry Cartmill a Bathgate councillor, said: 'None of us is going to be here in 40 years time but nevertheless we need to get this right, if we are to determine this positively.' Wendy McCorriston, the development management manager, told the meeting: 'I realise our condition suggests 50 years and our applicant has mentioned 40 years. The most recent battery storage site we have approved has been for 30 years. 'Given the potential changes in technology, 50 years would not be appropriate.' She outlined that facilities such as wind turbines had initially been given 20-year lifespans, and some have been extended, while photo-voltaic sites, or 'solar farms,' have been granted 30-year lifespans. Laura Petrie, for the firm, said the 30-year lifespan would be acceptable. Councillor Damian Doran-Timson had raised questions about replacing the storage cabinets on the site. When told that equipment would need to be replaced in 10 to 15 years, the head asked: 'What would be the likely impact of equipment replacement within 10 to 15 years. Would the access be sufficient?' Colin Laverty, an agent for the developers, said: 'Yes, it would.' Mrs McCorriston told the meeting: 'It is a balance and i think in terms of planning policy this is a site that is not readily visible but a distance from main residential areas is acceptable and in terms of the land take it is relatively small .' Bathgate Councillor Pauline Stafford, who had asked for the application to be discussed by DMC, was not at the meeting, but fellow town representative Willie Boyle attended remotely. He told the meeting: 'My concern about this site is simply that what we are granting is a commercial site on agricultural land. 'I understand the locational need. I don't have a great issue with it, but because it is a commercial site the screening is important and I welcome the assurances and I look forward to seeing a copy of the final planting plan, but I am reassured from what I have heard. 'Demand changes, and we have to change with it. Other than that, I'm quite happy to support what's been put forward.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
