The foundations dug and the concrete base with anchor bolts installed, the greatest obstacle facing John Grieve, GM3RTI’s tower project, has been the Scottish winter weather, so John needs to proceed slowly with pulleys, wire ropes and other work; but it was only a few months ago that he could not proceed at all.

Despite supporting statements from neighbours and the Radio Society of Great Britain, the local Perth and Kinross Council rejected John’s planning application for the tilt-over, telescoping structure in the garden behind his home in the village of Inchture. It was to have had an operating height of 15 metres, or 50 feet. John told Newsline that he’d had little opportunity to communicate directly with the Council beforehand. The rejection stated that the project would [quote] “have a detrimental impact on the character and environmental quality of the application property and the surrounding area.”

John, who is also an RSGB Region 2 representative, contacted the RSGB Planning Advisory Committee for an appeal in October. In mid-December 2025, he received a 10-year approval. John also gained enthusiastic support on social media: an update on the RSGB’s Facebook page reached more than 35,000 supporters in just a few days, according to society spokeswoman Heather Parsons M7OWS.

Now if only John could similarly appeal against the Scottish winter weather…...