GSM-R Towers on National Rail network

[northwichcat]

Apparently these are planning permission exempt. Have there been many complaints about them? I saw one in the Knutsford Guardian last week about being next to a farm and spoiling the scenery but the reader was blaming the mobile network providers, unaware who is behind the new tower.

 

[83G/84D]

There were complaints about one on the Looe Branch a while back. I think Network Rail either moved it to another location nearby or disguised the mast as a tree like some mobile phone masts.

 

[swt_passenger]

I think local papers all over the south have been running mast stories for a couple of years, but it is nearly all done and dusted now, as the deadline for switchover to GSM(R) is fast approaching. End of 2012 south of a line between Severn and Wash, I believe?

Trouble is, every news item is written as though it is the first ever occurence of the problem.

Here's a typical shock horror story from Plymouth:

http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/Ply...ne-mast-near/story-15175083-detail/story.html

Note how NR are accused of sneaking it into position with no-one noticing - which can't be true, as there's nearly always about half a dozen white vans parked up for ages during these sort of jobs...

 

[northwichcat]

Note how NR are accused of sneaking it into position with no-one noticing - which can't be true, as there's nearly always about half a dozen white vans parked up for ages during these sort of jobs...

But they could be doing other work as well at the same time. In the case of the one someone complained about in the Knutsford Guardian they were fitting new power supply boxes at the same time, which aren't exactly noticeable from a distance.

 

[ole man]

If it's on NWR property we can do what we want within reason, there has been a new REB installed at Deganwy right opposite the houses on Station Road, and it blocks some views of Conwy castle, they complained to Conwy council and guess what it went up last week.

 

[W230]

"I am not happy," said Gary Rogers, one of the mast's closest neighbours at about six metres. "My house has probably lost £12-15,000 in value overnight.

"This thing looks like a furnace on a concrete plinth. It makes me worry about my ten-year-old girl, thinking there could be radiowaves coming from it."

I love this quote.

He's really trying to convince us that his house has lost so much of its value because of a mast? Classic Nimbyism. No wonder NR didn't broadcast the work - much harder for residents to get rid of it when it's already there than to stop it being built!

 

[TDK]

I love this quote.

He's really trying to convince us that his house has lost so much of its value because of a mast? Classic Nimbyism. No wonder NR didn't broadcast the work - much harder for residents to get rid of it when it's already there than to stop it being built!

Hmmm he better throw his mobile phone away and have the only child in his area without a mobile

 

[68000]

There has been a huge furore over these. Iain Coucher decided a few years back to change the strategy from 29m lattice towers to 15m monopole types. The gas thing is that the antenna is now closer to the ground and yet most of the objectors seem happier!

 

[ian959]

So despite living about 150 metres from the busy A374, right next to one of the busier railway lines in the country and what 300 metres from a rather busy railway depot, the sudden appearance of a 15m tall mast is a blot on the landscape and devalues a property quite significantly? Good grief... some people just love to whinge.

 

[83G/84D]

So despite living about 150 metres from the busy A374, right next to one of the busier railway lines in the country and what 300 metres from a rather busy railway depot, the sudden appearance of a 15m tall mast is a blot on the landscape and devalues a property quite significantly? Good grief... some people just love to whinge.

Exactly - People choose where to live. If you don't wan't noise or bright lights at night go and live somewhere quieter not next to a railway depot,Airport or busy motorway,bus depot etc and then constantly moan!