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Planning Applications - Runnymede Borough Council

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with associated equipment cabinets and compound for a temporary period<br />

of 2 years.<br />

5.2 The main considerations for this application would be the impact on the<br />

openness of the Green Belt in terms of its siting and appearance.<br />

Consideration also needs to be given to the impact of the proposal on the<br />

residential properties to the north of the site and the setting of the Grade II<br />

Listed Buildings.<br />

5.3 Paragraph 65 of <strong>Planning</strong> Policy Guidance Note 8: Telecommunications<br />

(August 2001) states that in Green Belts telecommunication developments<br />

are likely to be inappropriate unless they maintain openness. Inappropriate<br />

development may proceed only if very special circumstances are<br />

demonstrated which outweigh the degree of harm to the Green Belt. The<br />

lack of a suitable alternative site that would meet the needs of network<br />

coverage or capacity might be considered as very special circumstances.<br />

5.4 The applicant is currently negotiating a site share arrangement at Chertsey<br />

sewage treatment site. This site share will not be in place by this summer<br />

when the Public Safety Radio Communication Project starts. This site is a<br />

temporary arrangement only. The applicant states that the two masts in the<br />

immediate vicinity are not tall enough or strong enough for mast sharing.<br />

Both masts would need to be demolished and replaced which is not a<br />

practical solution for a temporary arrangement. The applicant also states<br />

that the antennas used by cellular and Airwave masts are different and it is<br />

not technically possible to mount the antennas at the same level on the<br />

same structure.<br />

5.5 Surrey Police state that radio communication is essential for effective<br />

policing. The current radio systems are entirely unsuitable for the modern<br />

environment. Two different systems, one for contact with vehicle mounted<br />

sets and one for handheld sets are in use. Both types are elderly and both<br />

use technology that is nearly obsolete. Currently radio coverage for the<br />

emergency services is patchy, signal quality is frequently poor and it is easy<br />

to monitor transmissions. Airwave is a digital, encrypted system that will<br />

provide hugely improved transmission quality, greater reliability and<br />

protection from eavesdropping. It can also allow private calls between<br />

officers as well as enhanced facilities for dealing with incidents (there are<br />

opportunities to effect common radio communication between the different<br />

emergency services which is currently almost impossible).<br />

5.6 Surrey Police state that this is not a commercial ‘phone operation but is a<br />

service on which operational policing depends.<br />

5.7 The mast would be located adjacent to Lyne Lane and the M25 and M3<br />

junction. The carriageway is 6-7 metres higher than the field in which the<br />

communication tower would be sited. Viewed from any angle the tower<br />

would have a backdrop of trees, although it would be higher. Given the<br />

proposed location there is also the infrastructure associated with the<br />

Motorways including signage, bridges, street lamps, telegraph poles and the<br />

two additional masts in the locality. Consequently it will not be seen as too<br />

much of an isolated or prominent structure. It is considered that a

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