Ballintubber residents vow to stop Vodafone mast

FORMAL OBJECTION LODGED Senator Lisa Chambers.

Oisín McGovern

A group of Ballintubber residents have said they ‘will do whatever it takes’ to stop Vodafone from erecting a 25-metre mast in their village.
The group say that the local community ‘are up in arms’ at the proposed development by Vodafone Ireland to erect a 25-metre telecoms mast at an Eir exchange the village in Creagh, just off the N84.
The planning application for the mast proposes the removal of an existing 13-metre telecommunications support structure to be replaced with a new 25-metre structure carrying antennas, dishes and other associated equipment.
Local residents say they have huge concerns over the visual impact on the area, given its proximity to people’s homes, Ballintubber Abbey and the N84.
Local resident Maria Staunton-Murray said: “The proposed structure is right beside our home, just 50 metres from our front door. I have two young girls and this is our forever home, we are just devastated to think a structure like this would be built so close to us. I can’t see how this could be deemed safe or be allowed so close to so many people’s homes.”
In a letter to The Mayo News, residents said: “A structure of this nature should only be erected in a village as a last resort where necessary and it should be kept to a minimum height for effective operation; this is outlined in the planning guidelines.
“The reason given by Vodafone Ireland in their planning application is that the mast is required to support a new operator, Eir mobile, as there is no space on the existing pole and it is not high enough for their requirements.
“This cannot be considered by any reasonable standard to be necessary or essential. It is safe to say that the people of the area can live without a mobile service from Eir mobile and have been doing just fine up until now.”

‘Unacceptable’
Local man Davy Staunton, who has lived in the village all his life, described the proposal as ‘unacceptable’.
Mr Staunton said: “The people of Ballintubber will not tolerate this. Where they want to put the mast is 50 metres from my house and right beside my father’s old mill which has been in the family for generations, we won’t stand for this.”
The planning notice for the proposed mast was erected on the site on December 12, with plans submitted to Mayo County Council on December 21, 2020. The residents say the notice was brought to their attention by a local who was out walking and that they are ‘upset’ at the lack of consultation with the community.
Local Senator Lisa Chambers, who grew up a short distance from the proposed site, has lodged a formal objection against the mast to the planning section of Mayo County Council.
Senator Chambers said in a statement: “The community is not opposed to necessary infrastructure but what is being proposed is a monstrosity and the community feel as though there has been an attempt to sneak this through in the dark of night. “But I would appeal to Vodafone Ireland to reconsider this application and to pull back and save the community in Ballintubber the stress and anxiety of this process.”