Cellphone tower dilemma
Fontainbebleau Primary School faces strong opposition from residents who object to the building of a tower on school grounds
Residents of Fontainebleau and parents of children attending Fontianebleau Primary School oppose the building of a cellphone tower which will be built near the school.
Concerned residents met on 21 January to discuss the effects the tower will have on the health of not only the pupils at the school, but also of everyone in the surrounding areas.
Werner Simpson, a parent of a pupil at the school said, “We are afraid of the electromagnetic radiation that the cellphone tower will carry. This may damage the health of our children. We are disappointed that the school would want to house such a tower which poses a threat to the people of the community.”
Residents present at the meeting disapprove of the tower being built near the school and homes. They have decided to stand against having the tower built, and believe their success lies in the Fountainbleau community uniting against it.
According to Graeme Ross, chairperson of the Fontainebleau Primary School governing body, the cellphone tower will not be built in the school yard but at the school tennis courts on the corner of Silver Pine Avenue and Elise Road, a short distance from the school.
“We have followed all the right procedures regarding the tower. Prior to us agreeing with the cellphone company to have the 20 metre-long, yellow wood cellphone tower built, we addressed the community. Those who opposed it sent their complaints to the City Council. We had left the matter in the hands of the relevant authorities,” explained Ross.
Ross stated that the City Council and other parties approved the tower. “We as the school governing body have the interest of the school at heart. We care deeply about all of the pupils, and would therefore not have agreed to have the tower built anywhere near the school if it was a danger to our children and ourselves.”
At the time of going to print the City Council Development Planning Department did not respond to questions sent to them regarding the matter.
Details: Fontainebleau Primary School 011 791 6160/1.
