Local councillors have received notification of a proposed new telecommunications mast at a site on Old Skene Road (see attached map).

Telefonica UK has entered in to an agreement with Vodafone Limited pursuant to which the two companies plan to jointly operate and manage a single network grid across the UK. These arrangements will be overseen by Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure Ltd (CTIL) which is a joint venture company owned by Vodafone Limited and Telefonica UI Limited.

This agreement allows both organisations to:

• pool their basic network infrastructure, while running two, independent, nationwide networks
• Maximise opportunities to consolidate the number of base stations
• Significantly reduce the environmental impact of network development

The purpose of the letter we received from Harlequin Group is to consult and seek our views on their proposal before any planning submission is made.

Their letter goes on to say “As part of Telefonica’s continued network improvement program, there is a specific requirement for a new radio base station at this location.

Mobiles can only work with a network of base stations in place where people want to use their mobile phones or other wireless devices. Without base stations, the mobile phones and other devices we rely on simply won’t work.

“Our technical network requirement is as follows:

• 75927 Old Skene Road, Westhill, AB32 6JR – new installation
• The new mast is required to provide additional and improved telecommunications coverage in the area. This would include improved 2G and 3G services and the introduction of 4G services (high speed mobile broadband).

“A number of options have been assessed in respect of the site search process and upgrading this existing base station was seen as the best option as it both complied with local and national planning policy as well as reduced visual impact to a minimum.

“All installations are designed to be fully compliant with the public exposure guidelines established by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). These guidelines have the support of UK Government, The European Union and they also have the formal backing of the World Health Organisation. A certification of ICNIRP compliance would be included within any planning submission.

If you have any comments to make on this proposal, please let me know by 24th March, 2016.

75927 Westhill Planning Drawings