Red light visible for miles from new telecoms mast sparks backlash in West Cork

The issue was highlighted at a recent meeting of Cork County Council's West Cork Municipal District by Independent Ireland's Danny Collins. File picture

Residents in Ballydehob have raised concerns over what has been described as an intensely bright red light emanating from a recently constructed telecommunications mast, with complaints that it is affecting homes and altering the night sky in an area.

The issue was highlighted at a recent meeting of Cork County Council's West Cork Municipal District by Independent Ireland's Danny Collins who called on the local authority to investigate complaints from residents of Knockroe, Ballydehob and surrounding areas regarding the light installed on a telecommunications mast operated by Vantage Towers Ltd.

Mr Collins said the matter had generated significant concern locally, with residents contacting both elected representatives and public bodies. “People in this area are having a real issue with it,” he said. He said Ballydehob is located in an area with relatively low levels of light pollution and said the red light can be seen “for miles around”. 

Mr Collins said the planning permission for the mast specified that it should be fitted with a low-intensity red aviation warning light. However, he said residents had pointed out that the light appeared significantly brighter than those fitted to other telecommunications structures in the area. 

“There are other masts with lights in other areas such as Mount Gabriel and Corthna west of Schull that have nothing like this intense red light," he said.

According to Mr Collins, residents have complained that the light is shining directly into some homes. “People have told me and I've been sent pictures of it and I've had a number of emails on it,” he said. He added that the constituency office of Michael Collins TD had also been contacted numerous times about the issue.

Mr Collins said he understood that Cork County Council's Planning and Environment Directorate had already received complaints and was examining the matter. “If the intensity of the light could be brought down I'd say this would solve the problem,” he said.

The motion was seconded by Fine Gael's Caroline Cronin, who said she too had received numerous complaints from residents. “I’ve been getting those emails and phone calls as well,” she said. 

Ms Cronin said residents were particularly concerned about the impact on the area's night-time environment. “It is really changing the whole atmosphere of the sky at night time,” she said. “Ballydehob always had a beautiful sky bright with stars and that has definitely affected it.” 

Ms Cronin told the meeting that she had contacted Vantage Towers and received a response from a company representative.

According to the information she received, the red light was required by the Department of Defence rather than the Irish Aviation Authority and was required to operate as a medium-intensity aviation warning light with an output of 2,000 candela on a continuous basis. “It is too bright, I think,” she said.

Mr Collins questioned why the mast appeared to have a brighter light than comparable structures elsewhere in West Cork. “People are telling me that the lights on Mount Gabriel and Corthna west of Schull are no way as bright as this one,” he said. 

Ms Cronin suggested that reducing the intensity or introducing shielding around the light could potentially address residents' concerns. Independent councillor Finbarr Harrington also supported the motion, saying he had received a number of complaints. 

“It is really bright and really glaring,” he said. “This thing sticks out like the northern star.” Mr Harrington said there were several other masts in the area that were barely noticeable at night and questioned why this installation appeared different. 

“Obviously if people have gone to the trouble of contacting all the public representatives in the area it is bothering them quite a lot,” he said.

Responding on behalf of Cork County Council, acting director of services for the environment department, Ger Barry, confirmed that complaints had been received. “The issue raised is currently under investigation,” he said. Mr Barry said an update would be provided once the investigation had been completed in accordance with the council's procedures.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.