Having been granted permission for a temporary mast to remain at the telephone exchange for a further six months in May 2016, Arqiva are seeking permission to retain the equipment for another nine months.
The temporary mast was due to removed from Moss Lane by 31st November, however, Arqiva have now submitted another application on behalf of EE and Hutchison, who have provided 2G and 3G coverage for commercial, retail and residential customers for a long time from the Festival Hall. Due to the redevelopment of the hall and construction of the Medical Centre the operators were required to remove the mast.
This latest application states "Without this temporary installation there will be a significant hole in the coverage and capacity within Alderley Edge. This will have a severe impact on the operator's customers.
"Unfortunately, the identification of a permanent replacement site has taken longer than anticipated. It has proved extremely challenging for the operators to bring together all the various elements to enable a site to be built in what is a very densely built up area with restrictive designations (including conservation areas and green belt beyond the settlement). These elements include the requirement for duplicate coverage and line of sight provision, a viable power supply, vehicular access to the site, as well as planning permission and completion of a lease agreement with a landowner.
"After multiple site searches a replacement site has been identified (which we can confirm is not at the telephone exchange) and the operators are progressing the acquisition of the site. This has taken longer than anticipated and it is now expected that it will be operational in nine months time – hence the request to maintain the temporary installation at the telephone exchange for a further temporary period of time. This will allow the necessary continuity of coverage and capacity for the operator's customers in Alderley Edge."
Several residents of Orchard Green have objected to the retention of the temporary mast.
One resident said "I would appreciate if the council will listen to the residents of Orchard Green and not extend the retention of this unsightly mast for nine months. The previous extension was meant to be temporary and this seems to be continuing as the 'easy option'.
"The mast has been a blight on our beautiful area for far too long and now should be removed. I do feel that the owners have had long enough to relocate their 'moveable ground based communications equipment' and it should now be moved."
Another resident said "This unsightly structure is too close to our properties and dominates the landscape of Orchard Green. Ii is clearly visible from both inside and outside my property. It is an eyesore and should never have been allowed to be put there in the first place."
Whilst a third resident stated "An alternative location MUST be found and soon. The term 'delay tactics' springs to mind. We have been looking at this mast for almost (if not more) 18 months already. This is unsightly and is literally on our doorstep in Orchard Green."
The planning application can be viewed on the Cheshire East Council website by searching for planning reference 16/5475M. The last date for submitting comments is 5th December and a decision is expected by 9th January 2017.
