Notices and News

Ultrafast broadband and the Gigabit Voucher scheme – drop-in session

Following a very successful drive by the parish council with the support of residents, Openreach have been building ultrafast fibre broadband for residents and businesses in and around Landrake, with the help of funding that has been made available using the Government’s Gigabit voucher scheme. The broadband build is now mostly complete and residents that pledged a government voucher to the project can now place an order for the new, faster service.

Openreach are holding a drop-in session for voucher holders so that you can come along and ask any questions that you may have regarding the vouchers or the new broadband network.

Can’t make it but want to learn more? Please contact Mervyn Gingell on mervyn.gingell@landrakeparishcouncil.gov.uk

Hope to see you there!

10th October 2023

5G Mast Off A38 Communication with Three

Dear Ms Davies

Thank you for your letter dated 31st May 2023

I do not understand why the emails bounced back as undeliverable but would be grateful if you could reply by email to my email address clerk@landrakeparishcouncil.gov.uk and copy my Chairman mervyn.gingell@landrakeparishcouncil.gov.uk and vice-chairman graeme.francis@landrakeparishcouncil.gov.uk in the interest of time.

The Parish Council has the following questions for THREE :

1. Consulting with communities - Does THREE take community affairs seriously and work with communities to find solutions in cases such as Landrake where there is a very significant feeling in the community that the location of a mast is dangerous and inappropriate? We are aware of other examples (Ilkley, Llandudno) where THREE has listened to communities, and would urge THREE to think again before proceeding under the planning approval PA23/02464 to install this mast in a dangerous and unsightly location at the entrance to our village.

2. Will you meet with us? - Will THREE agree to meet (preferably on—site or alternatively - by Zoom) with our parish council to again explore alternative sites for this mast?

Whilst the statement “ in reaching their decision the LPA assessed highways safety and considered the siting and appearance of the proposed site” is factually correct it is far from the whole story.

3. Why was the first application withdrawn? = Following the submission of PA23/00259 (the first application for a 20m mast at this location), after over 70 written objections and a petition of 226 people, THREE, via Clarke Telecom. withdrew the application. The Parish Council would like to know the reason why this was withdrawn, and if the local objections played any part in THREE’s decision.

4. Why was there no consultation with Highways ? As part of PA23/00259, Highways submitted concerns about the dangerous location of the mast. An extract of their response is shown below

National Highways consultee response PA23/02464

It is necessary that we fully understand any potential impact on the highway that may result from the installation and subsequent operation of the equipment, in accordance with DfT Circular 01/2022. It would be expected that the agreement of National Highways would be sought prior to the submission of a prior notification application, which has not happened in this case. This is disappointing given our comments to the previous application reference PA23/00259.

National Highways consultee response PA23/00259

It would be expected that the agreement of National Highways would be sought prior to the submission of a prior notification application, which has not happened in this case.

Assessment of highways impact National Highways considers that the proposed development has the potential to adversely impact on the safe and effective operation of the A38 for the following reasons: 2 Registered office Bridge House, 1 Walnut Tree Close, Guildford GU1 4LZ National Highways Limited registered in England and Wales number 09346363 • the mast is within falling distance of the A38 carriageway and footway and no technical approvals for the structure have been provided and no road safety audit undertaken; • the installation could be vulnerable to an errant vehicle strike and it is not clear what protection measures have been considered; • no information has been provided regarding how safe and suitable access for maintenance will be achieved to ensure the A38 carriageway and footway will not be damaged or impeded after installation.

It is clear that in both cases (PA 23/00259 and PA23/02464) that there has been no prior consultation with Highways about this development. Why did THREE bypass the normal consultation process and not involve Highways, particularly as the A38 in this part of Cornwall is so dangerous?

5. Provision of 4G and 5G services to the local area – from the Clarke Telecom correspondence, the local area to be served by this mast location is approximately 50 houses. Any connectivity that serves the wider A38 (eg traffic, GPS etc) could easily be met from alternative locations, and we believe that there are alternative sites in the village that could be used for full coverage. Could THREE answer this question – how many THREE customers within the “red lines” on the Clarke Telecom correspondence – would be served by this mast?
Request to reconsider – the Parish Council is acting on behalf of the community who overwhelmingly do not want this mast at the proposed location. We have proposed multiple other locations for the mast and feel that THREE could show flexibility and a true desire to engage with communities before going ahead and implementing this planning decision. We know that the planning system is in favour of development, but surely there must be some balance between “progress at all costs” and the very strong views of a community which is ready to welcome 5G in a safe location.

We urge THREE to meet with the Parish Council to seek an alternative safe site for this mast.

We await your reply.

20230608 Response letter from Three

8th June 2023

5G Radio Mast - Letter to Sheryll Murray

Sent by email 26th May 2023 @ 14:29hrs

Dear Sheryll

I understand one of Landrake with St Erney Parishioners has been in touch with you regarding Cornwall Council’s decision to approve the planning application for 5G mast on the entrance to Landrake Village, off the A38.

The Parish Council kindly asks you to:

1. Lobby the government to put forward changes to this type of planning application, so that local communities can have a meaningful say in what happens in their communities (or on this case, what is imposed on the community without their consent).
2. Contact National Highways urging them to take into consideration the safety views of Landrake Community.
Steve Hellier, Project Manager, Third Party Scheme Delivery
South West Operations Division
National Highways | Ash House | Falcon Road, Sowton Ind. Estate | Exeter | EX2 7LB
Tel: 0300 470 4383 | Mobile: 07917 068800
3. Write to the Managing Director of C K Hutchinson requesting work with the community to source alternative locations.
(Although different circumstances because the application didn’t get to approval stage, Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aelod o Senedd Cymru dros Aberconw, was able to secure an alterative location for Llandudno by writing to Three, now C K Hutchinson. See link: Plans for new 5G mast in Llandudno will not be going ahead | North Wales Pioneer)


You will see from the number of comments of the portal and the signed petition the strength of objection from Landrake Community.

The Parish Council and members of the community is not objecting to a 5g mast in the parish and have tried to put forward alternative suggested locations but the Parish Council are of the firm opinion that the proposed location is totally unsuitable.

1. The location would be blocking the view of the road a busy junction. Already there are far too many accidents on this stretch of the A38.
2. The mast would act as a potential distraction at the main access junction for Landrake, as well as to passing traffic on the A38, a major access route into Cornwall and already an accident black spot.
3. This stretch of the A38 is already an accident hotspot and the siting of this mast could obstruct drivers visibility or distract them adding further dangers.
4. The mast would be a blight on the landscape and an eyesore to the entrance of a traditional Cornish village. Code of Practice for Wireless Network Development in England from Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport states "Mast positioning: all new masts should be sited, so far as is practicable, so as to minimise their impact on their setting, including the landscape and any buildings (para 36)"

The Parish Council has made every effort to try to engage with the Clarke Telecom to put forward alternative suggestions. As representatives of the community it serves, the Parish Council, supported by Cornwall Councillor Martin Worth have spent a lot of time and effort communicating with the agents and Cornwall Council.

The community of Landrake have been let down because legislation for Permitted Development Rights for Electronic Communications infrastructure do not allow for the communities views and valid material planning considerations to be taken into account.

The Parish Council have a public meeting next Tuesday (30th May 2023) and hope to be able to provide an update detailing your involvement and positive support.

All documents relating to this application can be found here PA23/02464 | Prior notification of proposed development by telecommunications code systems operators for telecommunication equipment and cabinets | Telecommunications Cabinet School Road Landrake Cornwall PL12 5DZ

Please refer to the comments on planning application PA23/00259
PA23/00259 | Prior notification of proposed development by telecommunications code system operators for telecommunication equipment and cabinets. | Telecommunications Cabinet School Road Landrake Cornwall PL12 5DZ

Which was withdrawn and subsequently replaced by PA23/02464 (which is a minor difference in size).
PA23/02464 | Prior notification of proposed development by telecommunications code systems operators for telecommunication equipment and cabinets | Telecommunications Cabinet School Road Landrake Cornwall PL12 5DZ

Kind Regards

Karenza Heald

Karenza Heald
Parish Clerk / RFO for Landrake with St Erney Parish Council
Tel 07854 948936
https://www.landrakeparishcouncil.gov.uk

Attachments:
Please find attached:
1. Landrake with St Erney Parish Council’s objection
2. Petition from Landrake with St Erney Parishioners
3. Communication between Landrake with St Erney Parish Council and Cornwall Council’s Planning Officer
4. Cornwall Council’s Delegated Officer Report
5. Cornwall Council’s letter to Clarke Telecom (the agents for this application) detailing conditions of the approval.
6. Location map

Download document (pdf)

29th May 2023

Local Government Bulletin - Disability Cost of Living payment

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Payment window for £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment announced
The Department for Work and Pensions has today (19 May) announced that disabled people in the UK will receive their one-off £150 disability cost-of- living payment from 20 June.
Those being paid a disability benefit will receive it automatically during a two-week window starting on 20 June and finishing on 4 July. A small proportion of payments will be made after this date, where claimants were still awaiting confirmation of their eligibility or entitlement to disability benefits on 1 April. There will also be further payments of £300 for pensioners due later this year.
Councils are encouraged to share this message as appropriate.

Information on Disability cost of Living payment

19th May 2023