An application to erect a phone mast in Pickhurst Lane has been made to the council.
The 56-day consultation by Telefonica has been submitted for plans to place a single pole mast with a number of external antennae in the forecourt of the petrol station at the bottom of Station Approach, by the entrance/exit on Pickhurst Lane. At 20 metres in height the mast will be roughly twice the height of the surrounding buildings.
As your ward councillors we have been content to see masts erected in the ward in the right places – after all, most of us use mobile ‘phones – but we have also opposed these where we’ve felt the siting of either the mast and/or ground infrastructure is inappropriate.
However, the height and number of antennae both proposed and planned in future is significant in this case and, despite our recent requests of the applicants, we have not yet seen any information about which alternative sites had been considered in this case.
Proposals have been submitted for motel-style accommodation at the New Inn in Station Approach.
The planning application for twelve ‘letting rooms’ in a separate building to the pub, envisages the project being built to the rear, on the Station Hill/Ridgeway side of the site.
The views we’ve received so far range from outright opposition in principle, to concerns over specific aspects such as the size, location, traffic issues, loss of trees and effect on the street scene, among others. Some are supportive of a prominent local business seeking to enhance its viability, but many still take issue with aspects of the proposals as they stand.
We would expect the proposal to come before a planning committee towards the end of this month.
An application for a licence to sell alcohol at the service station at the bottom of Station Approach has been withdrawn after a knock-back from the licensing committee.
At a hearing recently Cllr. Graham Arthur, on behalf of residents, had argued against the application, following which the bid was deferred in order to gather data on the number of potential customers and other aspects. Shortly after, however, the application was formerly withdrawn by the applicant.
February saw the opening of the new zebra crossing on Pickhurst Lane, close to the bottom of Station Approach. The crossing was put in following requests from the Safer Neighbourhood Panel, supported by your local councillors.
Public consultations began in late July on a proposed zebra crossing on Pickhurst Lane, just beyond the Station Approach junction (heading towards Bourne Vale).
It is hoped this will make this well-used walking route safer as well as slowing traffic down at the junction.
The consultation (drawing pdf here) closes on 22nd August.
Serving Hayes, Coney Hall, West Wickham Common and Hayesford Park
