Dear Supporters,

Together, we've achieved a significant milestone - over 2,500 signatures on our petition to halt the Beacon Fell phone mast. Your support, combined with the support from local residents, visitors to the area, councillors, and front page of the local press, has been truly remarkable.

But now, we face a critical deadline. We have just 5 days left to lodge our objections about the planning permission with Preston Council. The deadline is February 19th.

While our petition carries some weight, we've been advised that individual objections via email hold the strongest sway with the council. Your direct input is crucial in ensuring our voices are heard loud and clear.

Here's what you can do to help:

1. Email the council: Send your objection to devcon@preston.gov.uk or write to: Planning Department, Preston City Council, Town Hall, Lancaster Road, Preston, PR1 2RL. Make sure to include the reference 06/2023/0259 in your email. 
   
   
2. Make it clear: In your email, emphasize that you STRONGLY OBJECT to the planning application, with your reasons.
   
   
3. Use our points: We've compiled some key objections based on technical aspects and planning policies to guide you. Feel free to incorporate these points into your objection email, along with any reasons of your own. If you need assistance, ChatGPT can help you craft your letter.
   
   

Here are the key reasons for objection:

The planning application is in violation of the local and national planning policies:

Development within a protected Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty / National Landscape Sites such as the Forest of Bowland AONB are given the highest level of protection.

The planning framework states: “The conservation and enhancement of wildlife and cultural heritage are also important considerations in these areas, and should be given great weight in National Parks and the Broads. The scale and extent of development within all these designated areas should be limited, while development within their setting should be sensitively located and designed to avoid or minimise adverse impacts on the designated areas.”

And also "In addition to the criteria set out in Policy EN1, proposals within the Forest of Bowland AONB will conserve, enhance and make a positive contribution to the natural beauty of the area.”

It is clear that:

• No alternatives have been suggested which preserve the existing protected area. For example, adding additional capacity to existing masts, using other existing infrastructure (eg radio masts, pylons)
  
  
• The local need is severely overstated. Due to provision of Broadband for the Rural North (B4RN) to a large area of Goosnargh, Bleasdale, Whitechapel, Inglewhite and Chipping, local residents have 1Gb internet. The application states local residents are in 'digital poverty' and need the phone mast for internet shopping, making doctors appointments, etc. This is simply not true. In addition there is already 4G coverage in most areas, with Vodafone 5G coverage in some areas.
  
  
• There will be a substantial impact on the local landscape and environment. The phone mast will be visible from the surrounding areas, due to it being 40m high, of which 10m will be above the tree line, therefore easily visible on the sky line. Beacon Fell can be seen from miles around and is a focal point for the AONB. A 40m metal mast will clearly be detrimental to this view.
  
  
• In addition there can be no argument made that a fenced compound with barbed wire, fuel tanks, generator and a 50sqm concrete foundation is in any way sympathetic to the local landscape. What an eyesore!
  
  
• Ecological Impact - the fell is home to a large variety of wildlife, including bats, which are a protected species. It is illegal to disrupt or restrict access to their habitat. There is no mention of protecting the biodiversity of the site. No ecological survey has been completed for the planning application so this matter has clearly had no consideration.
  
  
• Risk of a biofuel generator. The application contradicts itself, in one place stating "The use of generators and biofuel tanks are extremely rare and used in emergency cases only", but in others stating "The electrical generator with built-in fuel tank is to provide the apparatus with electrical power, which is critical to the operation of the apparatus."  As there is no power source nearby to the proposed site, and no mention of work to supply power, we must assume the generator is for 24/7 unattended use.
  
  It therefore is a fire risk to the wooded area, plus creates a further impact to the local wildlife from constant sound and PM 2.5 emissions. 
  
  
  

Remember, your objection matters. Every email counts, and together, we can make a difference.

Thank you once again for your continued support and dedication to preserving the beauty of Beacon Fell. Let's ensure our voices are heard before it's too late.

Warm regards,

Ben and Jo