The Planning Officer,
Arun District Council.
Dear Sir,
Application Ref. FN/45/06 - Proposed Erection of Mobile Phone Mast
at Tolmare Farm
I wish to object to this application on the following grounds:-
1) Not only is the application site within an AONB but the mast is
to be installed within the boundaries of an ancient dew-pond
The applicant states that the site is
"disused land enclosed on three sides by grassed
banking" - this banking is the remains of the boundaries of Tolmare
Pond. The centre of the pond, although much overgrown,
still retains water in the winter. It is believed that the structure
of the pond was damaged by vehicular movements during WW2 - and went
into a fairly rapid decline from then on.
WSCC's document A Strategy For The Landscape of West Sussex states
that new "telecommunications masts should avoid prominent locations"
(p 23) - quoting as an example of unacceptable practice "The mast at
Tolmare Farm was recently taken down because of its unacceptable
impact on the setting of two scheduledancient monuments".
As you are aware, the inspector at the enforcement proceedings
concerning the original mast, also sited within the remains of the
dew-pond, described the mast as
"an alien feature in a very exposed
and prominent location" -
the fact that this new proposal is
for an "imitation telegraph pole" in no way alleviates the negative
environmental impact of such development within an AONB / potential
National Park.
The South Downs Planning Guidelines (Draft Revised June 2006) draw
attention to the Phone Operator's Code of Best Practice which states
that "prominent rural locations" and "designated rural areas such as
National Parks and AONB should be avoided" (C11.7/8)
2) The applicant has failed to demonstrate a need for the mast. The
guidelines cited above state that Planning Authorities must ensure
"that any new mast is justified and that there are no alternatives
outside AONBs."
The applicant states that the "proposed site is required to provide
coverage to a section of the A280 to the west of Findon". The
coverage is required along this stretch of main road - not for
dwellings or any other facility.
There is good evidence that the use of mobile phones, even
hands-free, by motorists reduces concentration and increases the
risk of accidents. The erection of such a mast would serve therefore
to endanger the lives of motorists, cyclists and pedestrians along
this picturesque but busy highway.
3) The Tolmare Dew-Pond is a site of national literary importance.
Thomas Hardy, eminent Victorian poet & novelist, visited Findon
several times in 1866/7, whilst courting first Eliza, then Mary
Jane, Nicholls, who lived at The Running Horse Inn (now Nepcote
House). Hardy wrote one of his most famous early poems Neutral Tones
beside Tolmare Pond - about the break-up of his love for Eliza. The
poem starts:-
We stood by a pond that winter day,
And the sun was white, as though chidden of God,
And a few leaves lay on the starving sod:
They had fallen from an ash and were gray.
The only remaining tree beside Tolmare Pond is the ash sapling,
described by the applicant as "existing tree 3m high".
This is a site of National Literary importance - the only clear
course for Arun District Council must be to reject the application -
and in doing so, give a positive supporting lead to local
campaigning - spearheaded by Findon Parish Council - to have the
pond restored.
A Strategy For The Landscape of West Sussex promotes policies which
"protect, conserve and enhance village ponds, other ponds, open
areas of water and dewponds". It also recommends "the conservation
of ponds ... restoring where possible neglected ponds on farmland"
(p 32).
I therefore urge your committe, taking heed of the various policy
documents cited, to refuse this application and take positive
steps to ensure the full restoration of Tolmare Pond so that it may
once more be "a dew-pond teeming with wildlife" as it was until the
1940s.
Yours faithfully,
Dr Anthony Fincham, East Farleigh, Maidstone, Kent.
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