Duror & KentallenNews

SHARED RURAL NETWORK - EE – TOTAL NOT SPOT (TNS) PROGRAMME

PRE APPLICATION COMMUNITY CONSULTATION

PROPOSED COMMUNICATIONS SITE REF: EE TNS0200 / 85675 ON LAND AT SALACHAN GLEN, APPIN, PA38 4BJ, NGR: 199207, 751538

EE as one of the UK’s four mobile network operators (along with Three, Vodafone and O2) working on the Total Not Spot Programme (TNS) part of the wider Shared Rural Network Scheme (SRN).  Mitie are appointed as the Acquisition & Planning agents working on behalf of EE on the Total Not Spot (TNS) programme in this area.  As you may be aware, the Shared Rural Network (SRN) is a telecommunications programme which sees the UK Government working in partnership with the four UK mobile network operators - EE, O2, Three and Vodafone - to increase mobile connectivity in rural parts of the UK.

Mobile connectivity has become an integral part of society with extensive economic and social benefits however, it is recognised that the lack of mobile communications coverage in remote and rural areas intensifies the digital divide and can hinder rural development.  The Shared Rural Network will deliver 4G coverage to 95% of the UK, offering significant improvements to mobile coverage for rural communities, businesses and visitors.  These improvements cannot be delivered without the building of new infrastructure.  The TNS Programme involves the construction of new infrastructure in areas where there is currently no 4G coverage from any mobile operator.  Every new site on the TNS Programme will be available to all the mobile operators to share including the new emergency services network (ESN), thereby providing essential connectivity across all operators.

Please find enclosed the following documents which we hope will provide you with additional details about the proposal:

• Description of Development;
• Site Location Plan;
• Site Photos;
• Search Area and reasons for selecting the proposed site;
• Site Plan;
• Site Elevation Drawing;

Description of Development

Proposed installation of a 30m high lattice mast (coloured RAL8014 – Sepia Brown) accommodating 3No antennas; 2No 0.6m transmission dishes and ancillary development within a 10x8 metre compound surrounded by a timber posted deer fence.  The proposed compound will also accommodate; 6No outdoor equipment cabinets; 1No electrical meter cabinet; 1No Off-Grid Power Generator with integrated fuel tank and ancillary development.  The proposed new compound will be accessed via a proposed new hardstanding constructed from compacted stone directly off the existing stone forestry track.

OS Map of Proposed Site Location: Salachan Glen, Appin, PA38 4BJ, NGR: 199207, 751538

Site Photos

Search Area Plan

Prior to instructing Mitie on this project, EE carried out a detailed review and assessment of the 83 Total Not Spot (TNS) sites assigned to them by the UK Government to deliver.  EE’s review resulted in the ability to meet the necessary TNS coverage requirements in the assigned areas using just 62 sites rather than the original 83 sites allocated to them.  The consequential reduction of 21 new greenfield mast requirements from sensitive and rural Scottish environments is a very significant achievement in minimising the overall impact of the SRN network on the character, visual amenity and environment of rural Scotland, while also delivering the necessary improvements to mobile coverage for rural communities, businesses and visitors.

Due to the very remote nature of these site requirements, they will rely on having clear Line of Sight (LOS) to link back to the national mobile communications network using transmission dishes on the mast.  On that basis, the full list of site requirements was split up into different groups of sites (Clusters) which would link into each other using LOS transmission dishes before then connecting into the existing national network via LOS transmission links to an existing and established communications site.  Where operationally and physically feasible, proposed new site locations have been microsited to avoid the most exposed locations and most sensitive designations, while also aiming to use existing and established access tracks for construction and maintenance purposes.

EE TNS Cluster 74

• EE TNS Cluster 74 aims to provide high quality 4G coverage to Total Not Spot areas in Salachan Glen and Glen Duror;
• Cluster 74 is made up of 1No existing communications site and 3No proposed new communications site as detailed below:

• EE Ref: 85675 – Land at Salachan Glen - NGR: 199207, 751538 (subject of this enquiry)
• EE Ref: 85721 - Land at Coille Dhubh – NGR: 202401, 753225
• EE Ref: T16529 – Keil Track – NGR: 197374, 752854
• Existing Communications site on Ardsheal Hill – NGR: 199561, 756755

• The Total Not Spot coverage area for Cluster 74 includes residential properties; commercial forestry and an extensive network of tracks and paths which are popular with walkers, hikers and cyclists.
• The image below shows the LOS (facing north west) from the proposed site subject of this enquiry at 85675 - Salachan Glen to the next proposed site in the network at T16529 – Keil Track.  Without clear LOS between the proposed communications sites, this Cluster would not be operationally feasible.

• The image below shows the LOS (facing south east) from the proposed site at T16529 – Keil Track (which will be subject of a future pre app enquiry) to the site subject of this enquiry at 85675 - Salachan Glen.  Without clear LOS between the proposed communications sites, this Cluster would not be operationally feasible.  This image also helps to illustrate the highly effective visual screening, backdropping and vertical context that will be provided by the mature forestry in the surrounding area, thereby ensuring that the visual impact of the proposed mast will be minimal:

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Proposed Site Requirements

Before progressing with the site subject of this pre application enquiry, Mitie undertook a search of the area around the nominal location to establish possible site options that would meet the following requirements:

• Within LOS visibility of the Egress point (to ensure connectivity into the wider national communications network).
• Accessible by vehicle (using existing access tracks wherever possible in order to minimise harm to environmental and visual amenity).
• Locations which would provide an appropriate level and location of TNS coverage uplift.
• Locations that minimise impact on environmental and visual amenity.
• Sites that avoid impact on the functions and operations of the underlying landuse.

Reasons for Site Selection

The proposed site location for 85675 is adjacent to an existing forestry track in a large area of commercial forestry outwith any sensitive land designations.  As detailed below, the original nominal location assigned by the UK Government for EE to deliver was located in an area of dense forestry, remote from any access tracks.  Further investigation of the area found a way to deliver the TNS pixel uplift in the required areas of Salachan Glen and Glen Duror via a rearrangement of Cluster 74 to sites that are closer to existing and established access tracks, thereby significantly reducing impact on the environment and visual amenity of the area.  The proposed mast and ancillary development at this site location will benefit from the visual screening and backdropping provided by the rising hillsides to the North, South and East of Salachan Glen in addition to the screening and vertical context provided by surrounding mature trees.  In order to reduce contract between the proposed development and the surrounding forestry, we would propose to colour all of the proposed equipment, including the mast, in a Fir Green colour (RAL6009).

EE have confirmed that the proposed mast height of 30m at this location is the minimum height possible to provide the necessary level of TNS pixel coverage uplift along this section of Salachan Glen while also providing clear LOS to the adjacent site in the Cluster to the North West.  Alternative options in the area that were considered and discounted are detailed in the table and on the map below:

D1: Land at Salachan Burn, (nominal location) NGR: 200283, 751516

This location was the original Nominal location assigned by the UK Government for EE to deliver.  Following an investigation of the proposed site location it was discounted due to its location within an area of dense woodland with no access track nearby.  A review of the surrounding area found that alternative options existed which would have less impact on the environment, character and amenity of the area by avoiding the need for extensive tree felling and avoiding the need for long sections of new access tracks to be constructed.

D2: Land at Creag Bhan NGR: 199250, 750650

An option located on elevated land close to an existing forestry track was considered but subsequently discounted as it was considered that the visual screening and backdropping provided by the woodland at the preferred option subject of this enquiry would have significantly less impact on visual amenity in the surrounding area.

D3: Salachan Glen Sheepfold NGR: 198956, 752394

An option at this Sheepfold was discounted because the TNS coverage uplift to the eastern extent of Salachan Glen from this location would not be as good as the coverage provided from the preferred option subject of this enquiry.  It is also considered that the preferred option will benefit from a better level of visual screening, thereby minimising impact on the character and appearance of the area.

The proposed site location for 85675 is considered to be the preferred option in the area in terms of providing the required level of coverage uplift to the Total Not Spot (TNS) area along Salachan Glen, while also providing the necessary Line of Sight (LOS) visibility to the next site in Cluster 74.  The proposed site location is directly adjacent to an existing vehicular access track, thereby negating the significant visual and environmental impact associated with installing new access tracks in rural areas.  The proposed 30m high mast will benefit from being viewed in the context of the mature woodland surrounding the site and the contrast with the woodland will be further reduced by colouring the proposed mast and equipment RAL6009 – Fir Green.  Overall, it is considered that the public benefit of providing high quality 4G communications coverage to the TNS area in Salachan Glen will outweigh any minor visual impacts resulting from the proposed installation.

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Need further information? Contact Ginny.Hall@mitie.com