Overview
The complainant (Mrs C) raised a number of concerns that Fife Council (the Council) granted planning consent for the construction of a mobile telephone mast in a residential area. The mobile telephone company erected the mast in the incorrect place, and then applied retrospectively for planning consent, this was refused on the grounds of visual intrusion. Mrs C believes that the original application should also have been refused on these grounds. She has also complained that the Council claimed to have had a moratorium on the construction of mobile telephone masts on Council property at the time preventing them from offering an alternative site to the mobile telephone company. This she believes, was not true.
Specific complaints and conclusions
The complaints which have been investigated are that the Council:
- (a) failed to give appropriate consideration to the terms of the local and structure plans with regard to scale and character when considering the original application (not upheld);
- (b) failed to ensure proper neighbour notification (not upheld); and
- (c) gave misleading advice on a Council moratorium on the erection of mobile telephone masts (not upheld).
Redress and Recommendation
The Ombudsman has no recommendations to make.