Not in our backyard, residents tell MTN

AN application by MTN to erect a 15m high cellphone mast and base station in Mountain Rise Road, Carrington Heights has been met with opposition by neighbouring residents.

According to resident Dave Simpson, neighbours living in and around the area have collected and submitted around 70 objections to the application, making it clear that the local community is not in favour of, nor does it consent to the mast being erected in such close proximity to their homes and the local primary school, as they feel it will negatively impact on their health and homes.

“A special consent application to relax the building line and side space restrictions has been lodged with the Municipality to accommodate the mast. The existing zoning of the site, as special residential, does not support such a proposal and we are confident that the Municipality will reject the application based on its own town planning regulations,” he said.

According to Wally Coombe from the Umbilo/Glenmore Neighbourhood Watch, the proposed site is within 200m of the Carrington Heights Primary School, is in a purely residential area, is immediately adjacent to a bus/taxi stop and is surrounded by other residential homes. The erection of a mast poses unknown health risks to the residents and school children in the area and will be a major eyesore in the area.

“The notices were posted on A4 size posters on two poles at the intersection of Mountain Rise and Pitcairn Roads, and could be easily missed by passersby. They are so small and could be about anything, like a missing animal. We feel it was despicable that signs were put up instead of the applicant going door to door to consult people in the are. There should have been more consultation with residents. It was very secretively done and we are determined to object and fight this tooth and nail, as it will be unsightly, there will be a constant droning from the mast, and will affect the rateable value of properties,” he said.

Simpson said cell companies argue that there is no evidence to support negative health impacts but the cell companies themselves and World Health Organisation also admit there isn’t enough research on the long term effects of exposure to radiation emitted from cellphones and base stations.

“We shouldn’t be the Guinea pigs. Beside the health aspects, having a unsightly cell tower in a low-rise residential neighbourhood will negatively impact property values and be an eyesore that is not needed or wanted. The National Building Regulations are clear that even if the negative impact is ‘probable’ the development should be rejected. Should permission be given for this mast it would be erected against the will of and at the expense of the community, to benefit a large corporate and single homeowner,” he said.

Simpson said despite the notice only having been up for a few days, contractors were already moving in and had dug a number of proving slots in the pavement from John Geekie Road to Nicolai Crescent and down Mountain Rise, few of which are properly barricaded and already pose a hazard to pedestrians.

Another resident said she was extremely upset with the roads being dug up, even before the deadline for the objections had ended.

“This makes me wonder if the municipality had given MTN the go-ahead long ago. It also makes me wonder if they have just given us a chance to object just as a matter of formality knowing already that the mast will go up despite our objections. Why do these cellphone companies keep on wanting to erect these towers in our area. According to one resident our area has objected before – around seven years ago they tried, and residents objected and they were stopped. Don’t they get the message. We don’t need or want a mast. If it means any risk to my children's health then no. The company should buy a few acres of land where there are no people staying and erect their towers there. That way, there will be no one to object. Keep your tower out of our area,” she said.

In response to queries from Berea Mail, MTN SA said: “MTN has applied for a special consent use, with the local authority, and the public participation period, as prescribed, ended on 7 March . MTN is aware of the objections raised and has not commenced with any civil works as we are still going through the permitting phase in which approval or rejection has not been finalised yet by the local authority. MTN is following due process and will await the decision from the local authority.”