Having obtained a copy of the installation plans from Vodafone and realising that the changes would be easily visible, despite assurances to the contrary, we sent this letter to all the organisations concerned (see CC list). How could English Heritage have passed these plans causing unnecessary changes to a grade II listed building ?
4th February 2001
Church Of The Holy Trinity, Knaresborough
Planning application 6.100.969.B.FUL
Proposed Vodafone Installation
Dear Sir,
We are concerned that the proposed antenna installation would be clearly visible, and most obtrusive, on this important building in the Knaresborough conservation area. It appears that Vodafone have been assuring the bodies concerned that the antennas would not be seen (and also that plastic replacements for the stone louvres would not be noticeable). We would like to draw your attention to some points in the installation plans, supplied to us by Vodafone last December, which indicate that their assurances are untrue.
Vodafone installation diagram, cell site 5495E dated 18-06-99 amendment A 02-07-99, clearly shows that the panel antenna are not to be placed behind the louvers but within the depth of the louvres.
Louvre detail from Vodafone plan shown below.
This will be because the antennas each have a transmission beam that is around 120O wide, while because of the very narrow louvers, the beam angle would be restricted to less than 120O by the central stone vaulting and surrounding stonework if the antennas were mounted behind the louvres.
Our side view diagram shows how
clearly visible and obtrusive the panel antennas will look. The louver stonework has weathered to an almost black colour while panel antennas are normally white or very light grey.
This diagram is for the antennas on the North and South side, these have to be mounted even further out because their beams are not
straight in line with the direction the louvres face.
This same Vodafone diagram also includes “ NOTE: Allow for 300 Dia microwave dish height and orientation to be determined by Vodafone if required”. This cylindrical enclosed dish, which is used at busy sites for communication between base stations, is clearly to be externally mounted if required. To mount it internally would require that further stonework be replaced with GRP.
Yours faithfully,
Cc
Colin Brown, Chief Planning Officer, Harrogate Borough Council
English Heritage
Knaresborough Parish Council
Diocesan Registrar
