Improvements to the highway, which lay adjacent to the appeal site, were proposed in the local plan. Although there had been delays in implementation because of financial constraints, land had been purchased along the route and consultants were being instructed to carry out traffic modelling and prepare a scheme for completion within the next four or five years. The erection of a mast along the route would complicate matters, the council claimed.
The reporter noted that the local plan policy was 16 years old. In his opinion, the mast would simply comprise another piece of street furniture that could be relocated as necessary as part of the widening operations. This would be a minor impediment compared with the overall scale of the works, he opined.
DCS Number 100-051-129
Reporter Michael Shiel; Written representations.
