Large masts installed over weekend 'not acceptable' to local community

RESIDENTS and councillors have hit out at large columns that were installed in Ardcullen and on Harbour View Road, Knocknaheeny, over the weekend.

Councillors in the area said there was a lack of information and public consultation surrounding the large masts and what they are for.

A notice on the Cork City Council website informed people there would be a stop/go system in place on the Harbour View Road/ Ardcullen Junction between 9.30am and 4pm to facilitate the installation of the ‘columns’.

One has been erected near the Apple Campus in Ardcullen and another on Harbour View Road. Residents erected a sign on the column on Harbour View Road, stating the installation was “not acceptable in the community”.

Local councillor and former Lord Mayor, Tony Fitzgerald (FF), said: 

"Questions need to be answered relating to the construction of the two columns. 

"On Saturday, I met the workers who informed me that the columns were to improve the signal for mobile phones. 

"I contacted Cork City Council and requested information which I expect to have on Monday morning," he added. "I am very concerned and annoyed that there was no consultatiom with local residents and public reps. 

"To me they don't look great and I'm concerned." 

Fellow local councillor Thomas Gould (SF) hit out at what he described as a lack of communication surrounding the project.

“From the information I have gotten, I gather they have been put up to improve mobile phone coverage,” he said. “To me, there has been no consultation with the local councillors or community, not even the people in Ardcullen or on Harbour View Road. People deserve to know what these things are,” he added.

“To come in and just drop them there is shocking. As far as I’m aware, there were no planning meetings or consultations.”

Mr Gould said he had checked with other local representatives and none had been given any advance warning or information about the new structures.

“We were all given no information about this,” he said. “I’ll be contacting the council first thing today to figure out for definite what these things are and whether they should be in the community.

“They can’t just go away and do these things with little or no notice. There should have been public meetings, letters in mailboxes and a consultation process. It’s not right.

“We’re hoping to get more information and figure out if the masts are there to stay.

“They’re in the heart of communities on the main road so the question is should they even be there. At the moment, there are a lot of questions and no answers. When you have a lack of communication, people get very upset.”

The Echo has approached Cork City Council for comment.