Proposals to erect a 30 metre high telecoms mast on Little Skirrid - one of the Seven Hills of Abergavenny - are getting a mixed reception.

Objectors are concerned that the ‘unsightly’ mast will be a blot on the landscape, clearly visible from every direction as you approach the town, but others feel the priority has to be improving broadband reception across the county.

A report to Monmouthshire County Council’s planning committee recommends that the application from AB Internet is accepted.

And, after a presentation about the proposal from one of the company’s engineers on Monday evening, Llanover Community Council has voted to back the scheme.

Members of Abergavenny Civic Society meanwhile are awaiting feedback from the community council on issues such as why alternative sites were rejected.

Vice chair Tony Konieczny said, “Basically, at our meeting on Monday, we spent most of our time discussing the considerable amount of information we DIDN’T have from MCC about this proposal.

“It feels like a smoke and mirrors job, because there are rules and regulations governing telecoms applications that have to be followed.

“Planners have to show they have considered alternatives, where these are sited and their effective range and, when it comes to the preferred site, what the effective coverage would be, how many properties would receive the signal, whether it was part of a network and so on. None of this was available to us.”

The clerk of Llanover Community Council Hugh Candler, however, said AB Internet’s engineer had addressed their concerns.

“Some members of the local community can’t rely on BT to provide fast broadband. This project will benefit not only this area but, because the mast is part of a chain of five in the county, the whole of Monmouthshire. Two of the five already have planning permission,” he said.

“Although the mast will be unsightly, the applicant is doing his best to mitigate this by introducing the scheme in two stages - a 12m mast to start with followed by a 30m mast when the trees on top of the mountain have grown.”

He added that properties in the area would undoubtedly benefit from fast broadband, which would make it more attractive to work from home.

David Sheers, who attended both the community council and Civic Society meetings, strongly objects to the proposal however, and is hoping the case will be taken up by the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales.

“The internet company is doing a hard sell on this proposal but I feel other companies might offer something different, such as satellite technology which doesn’t involve erecting masts,” he said.

David argues that the planning application ‘has totally inadequate supporting information and justification’.

“It contains no information, as required under national planning guidance on telecoms development, as to the area intended to be covered by the proposed mast nor as to any alternative solutions (such as mast sharing) or sitings that may have been assessed.”

And he feels the site for a 30m mast is totally inappropriate.

“It could not be in a more prominent location on the summit of one of the iconic seven hills of Abergavenny from which there are wide views over the town, the surrounding countryside, the Vale of Usk and the National Park. It would be highly visible as a skyline feature from all these locations.

“I regularly walk the footpath over the summit and thus know the site and the views from it extremely well. I am also a National Trust volunteer for the Skirrid Fawr.

“While any development that improves broadband services in the area is to be welcomed in principle, this particular proposal shows a distinct lack of appreciation of the landscape around Abergavenny.”

His views are shared by another online objector who was ‘shocked’ to hear what was being proposed and points out that the mast ‘would be clearly visible from every direction as you approach our beautiful town - however tall the trees at the top may grow’.

She told the Chronicle, “I am hoping that other people will feel as strongly as I do and maybe have the opportunity to voice their concerns to Monmouthshire County Council before it’s too late.”

Little Skirrid is the only one of the seven hills that is privately-owned.

Planning officers, in recommending the proposal, refer to a detailed Landscape and Visual Assessment (LVIA) carried out by Anthony Jellard Associates ‘in accordance with nationally agreed best practice standards’.

This has involved an examination of various data about the site, including maps, aerial photographs and planning background information.

They say a detailed site inspection has been made and that the evaluation takes account of the mitigation measures which are proposed.

The report concludes that ‘the landscape character of the area will not be significantly affected by the mast development’ and that ‘existing woodland and local topography combine to reduce visibility’.

It adds that only a few properties ‘probably mostly on the eastern edges of Abergavenny’ will experience significant visual effects.

The study identified ‘no unacceptable harm to the special qualities of the Brecon Beacons National Park’ and says there will be ‘no significant effects on the valued views from the 7 hills of Abergavenny’.

“In these broad panoramic views, the masts are a small feature, light in appearance and frequently seen against a land background. There will however, be some locally significant effects on views to Ysgrwyd Fach from the southeastern part of the town.”

Few sections of the road system or of the public footpath network would experience ‘significant visual effects’. The most obvious effects would be for users of the right of way crossing the top of the mountain.

The overall conclusion of the LVIA is that the proposed mast development will not result in unacceptable landscape and visual effects and that the proposal complies with applicable national, regional and local planning policies relating to the installation of telecommunication structures in the landscape.

* A spokesman for MCC told the Chronicle, “The proposed mast is part of the infrastructure for a Government-aided project seeking to provide broadband coverage to rural communities in Monmouthshire who will not benefit from the Superfast Cymru project.

“The comments raised will be taken into consideration prior to a decision being made on the application.

“The equipment requires line-of-sight between masts to operate, which unfortunately necessitates tall masts on high ground. Assessing the visual impact against the benefits of broadband connection for our communities will be a key consideration in deciding the planning application”

He adds that the occupiers of the closest properties were notified, as were the ward member for the area, Llanover Community Council, the ward member for the neighbouring ward and Abergavenny Town Council. In addition, four site notices had been displayed on local public rights of way.

Details of the proposal can be viewed on the council’s website by entering application reference DC/2015/01378. The council’s community hubs and libraries have internet access for anyone without a home connection.

It is expected that the application will be reported to the Planning Committee meeting on January 5.