The Vodaphone Masts in Abergele Road, Old Colwyn

A letter was written from our association to Vodaphone expressing concern about the radiation aspect of these poles and also importantly the visual impact on the main road through Old Colwyn and opposite the new ALDI store.

A reply has been received and gives assurances that we should not worry about health risks or visual impact, everything is under control.

The radiation element is well below guidelines, accepted by the World Health Organisation and should not even be thought about, it is so low. It is immaterial says the reply where the poles go, near to schools or homes, no problem.

The visual impact has been dealt with by making the monopole look like a telegraph pole. How quaint!

A telegraph pole that has no wires is odd to say the least and there is also a sizeable metal box associated with the pole.

This is a Vodaphone 3G mast. Allegedly Old Colwyn suffers from low 3G cover and needs another mast.  What of Orange and O2, are they going to come along and want to put up masts?

Old Colwyn already suffers from unnecessary street furniture. A large number of metal telegraph poles with no wires attached have appeared and have been in our streets for ages with no apparent future use being discussed.

Both the monopoles proposed are obtrusive and in unsuitable locations. ALDI have gone to a great deal of trouble to make sure that the new store fits in neatly to the locality. The mast opposite the store is just an eyesore.

Vodaphone just need a monopole and have a corporate attitude that says that if they say it should go in Old Colwyn then it will go there. There is an apparent presumption on their part that Planning Permission is a rubber stamp scenario because there is scientific evidence which can be adduced.

There was scientific evidence adduced by the police in the Needle Exchange fiasco. It did not amount to much. The Irish Independent Expert Group says that it is ok, so should we be reassured?

Read the reply below