| In July, the Scottish Government rejected an appeal by the mobile phone company to keep the 22.8 metre mast at 534 Strathmartine Road, near the junction with Cox Street, allowing 28 days for it to be removed.
In a twist of events yesterday, however, it emerged the Scottish Government Reporter stated the original enforcement notice served by Dundee City Council in January should be upheld, “subject to the variation of the time allowed for compliance of the notice . . . from 28 days to two calendar months”.
This means T-Mobile now has until September 23 to transfer its communication equipment to the neighbouring 3G Hutchison mast and remove the towering structure.
The mast was erected in January 2007 as a “temporary” measure for six months, while the company tried to ensure coverage in the Downfield area. Following complaints from residents, who branded it an eyesore and raised the question of health issues, Dundee City Council ordered enforcement action.
This action was delayed when T-Mobile took its cause to the Scottish Government’s planning appeals directorate, but this appeal was later rejected.
Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick today condemned the company’s decision to delay action. He said, “For T-Mobile to say they will be retaining the mast at 534 Strathmartine Road right up until the last day they legally can is disappointing, but typical of the company’s behaviour at this location.”
Mr FitzPatrick went on, “I will be writing to them (T-Mobile) today for an assurance that they will fully comply with the Reporter’s decision, and that the mast will be gone by September 24. They need to take urgent steps to solve this problem in the next three weeks.
Local councillor Stewart Hunter said, “What the company is now saying contradicts what they told the Reporter during the appeal.
“They told him they needed until 28 August to remove the mast. Maybe when September 23 comes around, they will have a further trick up their sleeve. There is no need to wait until the final day — they should remove the mast without further delay.”
A spokesman for T-Mobile said, “The planning inspector has given us until September 23. It gives us enough time to put our equipment on to the existing 3G Hutchison mast. This wasn’t possible before.”
While the spokesman admitted the local community has had to endure the unattractive mast for “longer than they would have hoped” and apologised, he said the end result will be full network coverage for customers and fewer masts in the area.
The spokesman was unable to say when work would commence to transfer the equipment, but said it would be “by September 23”. |
