HOPES for a fourth stand being built at Alloa Athletic’s ground received a big boost as plans for a telecommunication mast in the town were approved.

An application was submitted by the Mobile Broadband Network Limited, who asked for prior approval to build a mast on green space adjacent to Old Russells Yard.

This has been granted, which allows MBNL to pursue moving the mast from its current location in the north west corner of Recreation Park to the new site.

Under the plans, MBNL will construct a 20-metre high slimline monopole and associated supporting apparatus on the grass verge next to the Clackmannan Road Roundabout.

These plans have been taken forward owing to Alloa Athletic’s desire to build an enclosure and media centre on the ‘railway end’ of the ground, which Clackmannanshire Council has given permission to.

READ MORE: Plans to build fourth enclosure at Alloa Athletic approved

A supporting statement read: “It is imperative to consider that this proposal is for a replacement ‘mast’ and not a new additional mast in the established coverage area.

“The existing equipment is located immediately to the north-west corner of the football ground (and is owned by the football club), whereby MBNL have been issued with a Notice to Quit (NTQ) to vacate the site due to the landowners plans to develop this land to support the football operations.

“To this end, a recent planning application has been submitted for the existing base station site, which makes the need to find a replacement site more pressing in order to ensure that the existing and long-established coverage provided by this existing equipment is not lost.”

The plans propose a specific design for the mast, wherein the 20m height has been considered as to not cause visual impact in the local area.

The antennas will provide coverage to residents, both for voice calls and also 2G, 4G and 5G internet usage.

EE, which MBNL provide support for, have also been awarded the contract to provide network access for emergency services, with the mast playing a key role in blue light phone calls.

READ MORE: Media and police centre approved at Alloa Athletic

During consultation, 13 other sites for the construction of a new mast were proposed.

Among these included the south east corner of the ground, which was disregarded as it posed a danger to people potentially scaling the pole to access the pitch.

Other options were the bowling club, a grass verge on Hawkhill Road, the land outside the KFC and a grass area outside Alloa’s retail park.

Alloa had previously applied for permission to construct a fourth enclosure and a joint media/police centre within the ground, which was approved in October.

Alex Brown, operations manager for Alloa Athletic, added: "We are in good faith negotiations with the mast companies to try and find mutually agreeable options to take this forward.

"We are trying to find options that meet the needs of both parties.

"We are trying to find something in good faith that works for both parties."

The full plans can be found via the Clackmannanshire Council planning portal, reference number 24/00188/ECCO.