Access arrangements for countryside telecommunications sites

In countryside areas operators should also seek to use existing lanes or tracks to provide access to their sites as a new access road may cause greater visual impact or environmental damage than the actual installation. For example it may open up an otherwise undisturbed area to unwanted visitors. The construction of new access roads and other less formal access arrangements can also be damaging to archaeological sites and nature conservation interests. As a result the Department will only permit new access roads where they are absolutely necessary. Where they are required great care should be taken to ensure that they will not appear as a scar on the landscape through careful siting, choice of surfacing materials and where necessary appropriate planting. In exceptional cases however the Department may require the use of a helicopter for the construction, installation and ongoing maintenance of a base station.