Home Office scrap plan for 10 metre mast on Snowdon path

The Home Office has scrapped plans to build a 10 metre radio mast alongside one of Snowdon’s most popular paths.

Set to be debated by Snowdonia National Park’s planning committee on Wednesday, the plans had been recommended for refusal on the basis that it would “cause significant harm to the landscape of the national park”.

But when meeting to make a decision at Maentwrog’s Plas Tan y Bwlch, park authority members were told that the plans at the foot of the Pyg Track at Pen y Pass had already been withdrawn.

When contacted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, a spokesperson for the Home Office confirmed that plans for the site in question had now been scrapped, with the search now on for an alternative site to boost emergency service communication in the area.

She said, “As part of the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP) there is a requirement for a telecommunications mast in the Snowdonia area

“After consideration of the concerns raised by Snowdonia National Parks Authority, we withdrew the application and will not be resubmitting it.
“We are working with key stakeholders to identify an alternative location and when a new location has been finalised a new planning application will be submitted.

“Masts provided as part of the Emergency Services Network will provide police, fire services and ambulance crews with an innovative mobile-based communications system that can transform their emergency response.”

The Home Office’s application had stated that the Pen y Pass site, near the youth hostel, had proved to be the “only suitable option” due to its topography, with there currently being a “large hole” and “variaion” in coverage levels across the area along the A4086.

But the officers’ report noted that the plan would ” cause significant harm to the landscape of the national park” and recommended refusal.

This was partially based on the views of Natural Resources Wales (NRW), noting it would “unacceptably intrude upon walkers approaching the Pyg track  and upon the dramatic skyline view of the north ridge of Crib Goch.”

They added, “Within easterly approaches to the pass along the A4086 the mast would be seen in silhouette on the skyline for a prolonged period, contrasting within the predominantly horizontal form of buildings and car-park at the site.”

By Gareth Williams – Local Democracy Reporter