[UK-CONTEST] UK-Contest Digest, Vol 66, Issue 13

[Geoffg4afj at aol.com]

re planning permission for mast (tower)
 
If you are not already a member of the RSGB join then you will be able to  
get the planning booklet which contains loads of useful advice. I would not go  
any further without reading that and taking the advice therein.
 
If you think the chap half a mile away will be a problem seek out anyone  
else who can see it who doesn't think it's a problem and see if you can get them  
to sign a supporting letter. Also see if you can get the parish council and 
the  local councillor on side. Of course he might be on the PC or be the local  
councillor!
 
If you have already dealt with your local planning dept you could contact  
that officer again for an informal chat to see how well disposed the council are 
 to radio masts.
 
Go for bigger than you want and be prepared to compromise - planners like  
that and it looks like you are a co-operative sort of fellow. If you are a  
member of Raynet it is worth mentioning emergency comms use etc, especially if  
you are in one of the areas of the country that have suffered as a result of  
freak storms etc. You will, of course, emphasise the fact that when it is not in 
 use it will be telescoped down to 25 feet. Let the hedges grow high along 
the  lane and main road so that the local busy bodies don't notice it when 
passing.  As you have a bit of land around it you could go for a tree planting 
scheme  so that it time it cannot be seen. Have any other radio amateurs in your 
local  council area received planning permission and did they have difficulties 
and how  did they overcome them? Site them as examples in your application.
 
Gl & 73, Geoff, G4AFJ
 
.