Parents’ Association Seeking Talks with Mart on Telecommunication Mast Siting

Pupils and members of Muire Gan Smál Parents’ Association pictured at the site of the proposed Vantage Towers Ltd. telecommunications mast on the grounds of Castleisland Co-Op Mart on Monday morning. Included are left: Maura Culhane, Emily and Molly Moran, Norma Nolan, Elaine O’Donoghue, Avril and Kate O’Sullivan, Urszula and Dawid Surzyn, Maurice Cotter, Doreen Killington and Áine Enright, Norielle O’Leary, Michelle Reidy, Molly O’Regan, Seamus Moynihan, principal Muire Gan Smál Primary School; Donal O’Gorman and Juliete O’Regan. ©Photograph:John Reidy

The parents’ association of Muire Gan Smál Primary School is to seek an urgent meeting with the bord of Castleisland Co-Op Livestock Mart to discuss its decision to accept a proposal by the company known as Vantage Towers Ltd.  to go to the planning stage for a 24metre telecommunications pole / mast on its grounds.

The concerns of the parents’ association is that the proposed mast would be overlooking the school and that its proximity would pose a danger to both pupils and teachers and all associated with the general area.

Sited in this immediate area also are: Castleisland Day Care Centre and the Presentation Girls’ Secondary School as well as An Riocht Athletic Club grounds and Castleisland Rugby Club and grounds.

School in Close Proximity

“Our primary reason for objecting to the planning permission is that under section 3.1 Site Location of their planning application Vantage Towers failed to mention that Muire Gan Smál Primary School is in very close proximity to the proposed location of the mast and they also failed to communicate their plans to the local community and school or engage with them.

Our first time hearing of the proposal was seeing the site notice, which is completely unacceptable,” according to a statement from the parents’ association.

On Line Selling – A Consideration

A spokesperson for Castleisland Co-Op Mart said that Vantage Towers had approached its committee and that members of that committee agreed on the siting of the pole at a location just off the roadway to An Riocht and beside the site of the community garden.

The spokesperson agreed that there was a financial inducement mentioned in the initial talks with Vantage Towers but that it was not the only consideration.

“On line selling has become a huge part of our operation here at the mart since the onset of Covid-19 and it is likely to continue this way for the foreseeable future.

Not the Only Ones to Benefit

“We will benefit from better communications and we won’t be the only ones. Every business in town and the people working remotely will also benefit from having the telecommunications mast in the location proposed.

“There are several other masts and poles in other parts of the town, there’s one on the Tralee Road near the ESB station and there’s one on top of Hartnett’s Bar and another in Killarney Road.

“The one proposed for our yard here is just another one of those.

“The mart has always been very approachable and of course we’ll talk to representatives of the parents’ association and we’ll keep an open mind on that,” said the spokesperson.

Rugby Club Approached

Included in the local facilities approached by Vantage Towers with the proposal to seek permission for a telecommunications pole was Castleisland Rugby Club.

A member of the club, sited only across the road from the mart site now in focus, said that the club confirms that its members were approached to erect the mast on the club grounds and were offered a sum of money in remuneration.

“The committee decided against accepting this offer as it felt it would not be in the club’s best interest,” said the member.

Muire Gan Smál Objections

Muire Gan Smál Parents’ Association has compiled a notice of objection to the siting of the mast along the following lines:

We, the Parents Association of Muire Gan Smal Primary School, Castleisland wish to object to the proposal from Vantage Towers Ltd, Mountainview, Leopardstown, County Dublin, Reference Number: 211263 to erect a 24m high monopole telecommunications support structure together with antennae, dishes, and associated telecommunications equipment, all enclosed in security fencing at the grounds.

We wish to object on the following grounds:

In their application, Vantage Towers fail to mention the proximity of the 24 metre Telecommunication Tower to Muire Gan Smal Primary School.

Under section 3.1 Site Location “The application site is set back approximately 250 metres from Castleisland.

Beyond the mart, to the north and west is the town centre, to the east are sporting grounds, including An Riocht and Castleisland Rugby Club. To the south and further east is predominantly agricultural land.

“We would like to ask the planning committee to examine the proposed location of the tower and the school’s junior infants’ yard.

We have measured it to be approximately 120 meters away from the school and at that distance would be very concerned about the health and well being of our children and the teachers in the school.

The close proximity of this tower also poses serious biological and health concerns for the more vulnerable people within our community particularly those attending the HSE Castleisland Day Care Centre which is also located beside the mart.

Depending on the transmission frequency and the power density of this Telecommunications Tower, the intensity of the Electromagnetic Radiation emitted coupled with long term exposure could cause significant health issues such as Cancer, Immune System issues and Genetic Disorders Studies have shown both short term and long terms health risks even at very low intensities for people living within 300-400 metres of telecommunication towers.

The height of this tower is significant and will be seen for miles. It will have an adverse visual impact on the scenic character of our community, devalue our property prices and will make our community an undesirable place to live.

The Telecommunications Tower will have a significant impact on wildlife, in particular bats, birds and bees.

Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields can elicit an averse behavioral response in foraging bats, affect the population of birds by adversely impacting their reproductive success and affect the memory, flight and foraging behaviour of bees which reduces their ability to pollinate. As the proposed location is very near to the River Maine, there would be a concern regarding the indigenous wildlife in this area.

Reference Number: 211263, Vantage Towers Ltd Planning Permission Application.

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