South Gloucestershire | Archive | 2005 | November | 5
From the archive, first published Saturday 5th Nov 2005.
THORNBURY FM, the town's new community radio station, has been given the green light for a transmission mast in a church hall car park despite fears that it could disrupt neighbours' television reception.
Planners approved the siting of the 70-foot tall mobile mast at St Mary's Church Hall for a maximum of 28 days every year.
The station is set to start broadcasting for a 14-day period from November 19, with a studio and broadcasting equipment accommodated in a portable building adjacent to the hall. It will go on air again for a further fortnight next May.
South Gloucestershire Council's development watchdogs granted the open-ended consent despite a plea for caution until it was known for sure that neighbours would not be affected.
Thornbury North West ward councillor Clare Fardell said: "There is considerable local concern about what the impact might be. I would not be happy about granting permanent consent at this stage.
"Local residents would be much happier if it did not have to be permanent, just in case problems arise. We should grant it for one year only to trial it."
Cllr Neil Halsall - not a planning committee member and acting as agent for the radio station team - said the transmitter would be no more than "a 25 watt bulb stuck on top of a 70-foot pole" and would pose no risk in terms of public health or TV interference.
He said that without a rolling 28-day-a-year consent, the station would have to re-apply every year, at no small cost to the charity.
Cllr Halsall won support from Cllr Stan Simms, who told the development control meeting last Thursday: "This mast is for a community radio station and as it is they have had a hard enough time raising money."
While in situ the mast will be cordoned off by a two-metre high fence for safety and security reasons.
Consent was also granted for the use of the portable building.
© Newsquest Media Group 2008