'You can't just come in and land something' unwelcome mast in Laois town

Another mobile and broadband mast has popped up without notice in a Laois town, causing annoyance at the lack of consultation.

The Ballinakill community in Laois is not happy with the mast, which is part of a rollout across Ireland to improve online signals. None of them need planning permission or public consulation on their locations, which are on public land.

Cllr John Joe Fennelly has gained the support of Laois County Council to write and complain to the Department for Housing, Planning and Local Government.

It is the fourth such letter to go on such masts in the county, revealed Director of Services Simon Walton.

Cllr Fennelly said "you can't just come in and land something".

"This is as you enter Ballinakill opposite the entrance to the GAA, on public land beside the recycling bins," he said.

He noted that Ballinakill volunteers work hard to improve the town, in the Tidy Towns and the development association.

"No-one is against infrastructure for mobile phones. It just appeared that no-one was informed. I know it is exempt from planning but there has to be surely someone contacted in the community.

"There is another place it could have been put. This is right as you come in to the village. It doesn't look right. We don't know what is going on to this, antennaes. The department should at least changed it so there is public consultation. 

"I got two calls on the morning it was going up, and I said I know nothing. this is done under a licence, it's nothing to do with standard palnning but it should come under it.

"Remove it and put it somewhere else. Not at the focal point as you come into Ballinakill," he said.

Cllr Barry Walsh seconded.

"There should be public consultation, especially with all the good work the local groups are doing in Ballinakill and elsewhere," he said.

Portlaoise councillors reported the same masts popping up in several places around the town, including O'Moore Place, Birch Grove and at Portlaoise Golf Club.

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The Director of Services will now send a letter.

"I will consult with the planning department and if there is an update I will email you," Mr Walton said.