by Kevin Kelly and Damian Dowds, Inishowen
Independent
WORK on the controversial Drumfries
telecommunications mast began on Monday with local
residents saying they were stunned the project is
going ahead.
“We’re stunned that work has started on this mast,”
said a spokesman for the Drumfries Residents
Association. “The planning application was riddled
with errors, but officials, Fianna Fáil councillors
and TDs have stood idly by in allowing Government
infrastructure to be built on this site.”
Cllr John Ryan, who along with Cllr Pádraig
MacLochlainn was singled out for praise by the
residents for their work on the issue, said he was
“disappointed” work had commenced.
“The integrity of Donegal County Council must be
called into question because of the unprofessional
manner with which this planning application has been
handled,” the spokesman added.
A spokesperson for Threefold, the company that is
carrying out the building work in Drumfries, said
that the mast forms an essential link in a national
roll-out of a secure communications service for the
emergency services, including ambulance, fire
brigade and An Garda Síochána.
Construction work on the site is expected to be
completed within ten days, with the mast becoming
operational later this year as part of the national
launch of the communications system for emergency
services. The Drumfries site is one of 600 around
the State where transmitters for the new National
Digital Radio Service will be located.
“I am very disappointed that Tetra has started work
after the efforts local residents have made to find
a solution,” added Cllr John Ryan. “Up until Monday
I was hopeful that agreement could have been got on
an alternative site, one put forward by the locals.
“I can understand why this sort of communications
system is necessary but I would have liked to see it
done following agreement with the local people.
"Joe McHugh and I met top people in Tetra recently
and, at that point, they seemed willing to talk
about the alternate site which is not near homes.
So, it is awfully disappointing that Tetra have
taken this course of action.”
The Drumfries residents spokesperson added: “We’re
not opposed to the mast, just the location of it. We
want it to be a minimum of 1,000 metres from the
nearest house. At the moment, there are 15 homes
within 500 metres of it.
“We accept that this is necessary infrastructure.
We’re not against the mast, just its location. We
want it to be at least 1 kilometre from the nearest
house. As it stands, there are 15 houses within 500m
of it.”
Owners of a 700-acre commonage area had offered
Tetra an alternative site for the mast, but this was
rejected.
“The commonage owners had pledged to give the annual
rental, of around €20,000, to local community
organisations like the Drumfries Youth Club and
North Pole Cycling Club. But because of the
intransigence of Tetra the local community will be
deprived of this,” the spokesman added. |
