Bellaghy phone reception set to improve

Mid Ulster Council’s planning committee heard there was one objection to the application for Telefonica UK.

Members were told the objection was raised to the appropriateness of the site, which is one of the lowest areas in the village, and adjacent to residential property on Castle Street, Main Street and William Street.

It is also on land zoned for housing and close to an area of archaeological potential, and a more appropriate site in an industrial zone at Deerpark Road was considered before being rejected.

Other sites were also considered before being discounted for various reasons and the proposed site, which backs on to Bellaghy Wolfe Tones GAC playing fields and training pitch, was considered the best to provide an acceptable level of cover.

The planning committee heard that the Historic Environment Division also considered the site acceptable.

Last summer the council spent £120,000 on improvements in Bellaghy, including £20,000 to upgrade mobile phone coverage, ahead of the opening of the Heaney HomePlace in September.

Mobile reception in the south Derry village has been poor to nonexistent on occasions, and the aim was to bring it in line with the reception enjoyed by neighbouring towns and villages.

The proposed development will see the erection of a 20-metre telecommunications mast, carrying three antennae and two radio dishes and associated works including three equipment cabinets and site compound.