By Grant Smith

DUNDEE WEST MSP Joe FitzPatrick last night condemned mobile phone operator T-Mobile for proposing to place a permanent base station in Strathmartine Road.

The company already has three masts in close proximity along the road—two permanent and one, near Cox Street, put up with temporary planning consent.

This week it emerged T-Mobile was seeking fresh permission to keep the temporary mast operating for another six months.

That prompted Mr FitzPatrick to urge residents to protest, but he was moved to express “outrage” at the plans now revealed by the company in a letter to residents.

This states that a new site is needed to replace a base station which had operated from Baberton Court, one of the last of the Ardler multis demolished recently.

The site at 534 Strathmartine Road, presently occupied by the temporary mast, has been chosen.

What is proposed is the erection of a slimline mast with antennae enclosed in a plastic shroud.

The total height of the equipment will be 11.7m (38ft).

T-Mobile’s letter states, “Several steps in the site identification process have already been undertaken.

“The local planning authority mast register and our records of other mobile operators’ sites have been reviewed and considered.

“The policies in the development plan have been taken into account and the planning history of the site has been examined.

“This site provides the required replacement coverage whilst keeping the environmental impact to a minimum as it will be viewed in relation to the existing telecommunications sites and against the backdrop and screening provided by the adjacent trees.”

The company is holding a drop-in session for residents at Kirkton community centre on September 4 from 4.30-7.30pm at which representatives will answer questions about the development.

However there appears to be little chance of anyone changing the company’s mind as its letter makes clear it intends to submit an application for planning permission for the base station to the city council after the meeting.

Mr FitzPatrick said, “I am outraged that they are trying make a permanent mast here. They are advertising a meeting to consult, but it is only to consult about the option for an additional mast on the Strathmartine Road site which already has two permanent masts very close to housing.

“Residents understand the need for mobile phone masts but it would be better if T-Mobile were instead to have a full and open consultation to discuss the various options that might be open to them to provide this service without placing more mobile phone masts so close to housing.”