HTAG Guildford - North Downs Telephone Mast

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North Downs Telephone Mast

Dear Sirs

I am strongly opposed to this planning application for a telephone mast on 'land south of Warren Farm'.

1. The location is not really sited as stated - in reality this location lies at the very crest of Pewley Down, a unique and highlly significant AONB on account of its pastoral setting right in the heart of Guildford, and of enormous value and resource to the people of Guildford.

2. The site would be very clearly visible both from the north, where it lies at the ridge line and will be effectively unscreened by planting, and from the south, where it will be visible through the thin deciduous planting at the ridge line, particularly in winter.

Although the southern slopes of Pewley Down offer the most spectacular views, the northern approaches across the footpath from Warren Farm offer outstanding views across to the Cathedral, the Berkshire Downs and London beyond. These special views are under constant attack in Guildford - from the threat of developments on the reservoir site at Semaphore Road, and from the proposed building on the site of Bright Hill carpark. The views from the footpath to Holy Trinity School across Warren Farm's farmland are some of the prettiest in the area, and would be spoiled by the building of a mast here. The single aspect which makes Guildford so attractive a place to live is the outstanding scenery which surrounds it, and is visible from within it. The unspoilt preservation of these views must be maintained as a top priority in the planning process.

3. Repeated applications for a mast at this site have been previously rejected, with a huge amount of public opposition, including from many local residents, HTAG, and Holy Trinity School. It is surely no coincidence that this application has been submitted on 21st July 2005, so that its consultation period of 21 days will occupy exactly that small part of the year when the school is not in session, nor its secretariat manned, and when the vast majority of local residents are on holiday and unable / less likely to be able to comment on these proposals. This timing amounts to a cynical manipulation of the planning process and should be lambasted accordingly.

4. The proposed mast is 15 m high. It doesn't sound that much, but it is actually 50 feet !!

5. I attach two photographs, one showing the present view looking from near Holy Trinity School without the mast, and one showing the mast in place. These serve amply to illustrate both the environmental value of this site and the reasons why this application and all future applications for a mast on Pewley Down, must be vigorously opposed.

Yours sincerely

Nigel Platt
1 Abbot Road
Guildford
GU1 3TA

nigel_platt@veritasdgc.com