PLANS to build three telecom towers in the Torfaen area will be discussed by councillors tomorrow.

The planning applications include three 15-metre towers - two in the Pontypool area and one in Blaenavon - with an aim of improving communication in Torfaen county borough.

Applicant Cornerstone Telecommunications is hoping to erect a 15m monopole supporting three antennas and two equipment cabinets at the northern end of Gilchrist Thomas Industrial Estate, Blaenavon.

This would be adjacent to a parking area used by GoS Engineering.

The loss of land, in the Blaenavon World Heritage Site, equates to between four to nine parking spaces but council officers state this would not cause a significant loss of employment land.

They also recommend that prior approval is granted subject to conditions. This includes the mast being removed when it is no longer required for telecoms.

However, council officers have recommended that the two separate mast applications in Pontypool area, by applicant CTIL and Vodafone, should be refused.

This includes a mast application at land at the junction of Church Road and Commercial Road in Talywain and land at The Highway in the New Inn area.

The masts are part of Vodafone’s network improvement programme to provide better coverage in “not spot” areas.

Officers have recommended to refuse prior approval for the Talywain mast due to its “proximity and height” to a grade II listed building and a adjacent residential property.

A report, due to be discussed by planners today, states the mast would “substantially harm the setting of that listed building” and would not meet the requirements identified in Planning Policy Wales with regard to preserving the settings of listed buildings.

Officers have also recommended to refuse prior approval at the proposed New Inn mast site due to the “unnecessary obstruction to passers-by,” in the interests of highway safety and that the mast’s siting next to a surface level bus stop would prevent the potential of a future bus stop enclosure.

To watch the meeting live tomorrow at 4pm, visit torfaen.public-i.tv/core/portal/home