Cellphone tower erected against residents will
Residents of Van Dyk Park are up in arms with the construction of a 14.5m high telecommunication lamp post mast and base station in their neighbourhood.
The residents believe that the cellphone tower will be extremely hazardous to their health and well-being, and will interfere with their electronic devices.
The widespread use of cellphones has led to cellphone towers being placed in many communities.
These towers, also called base stations, have electronic equipment and antennas that receive and transmit radiofrequency (RF) signals.
Cellphone base stations may be free-standing towers or mounted on existing structures, such as trees, water tanks, or tall buildings.
The antennas need to be high enough so they can adequately cover the area.
According to regulations of the municipality, it is prescribed that adjacent land owners to the development be notified and allowed a period of 28 days from date of letter of notification, to notify the municipality of any objections or comments in writing.
Residents have objected and a petition against the development has been handed in to municipality, but construction still seems to continue against the will of the residents.
The petition carries over a hundred signatures.
Acting metro spokesperson, Themba Gadebe, says the construction has not yet been approved.
“Application is currently on its first stages of circulation and no approval was granted to commence with any construction work,” says Gadebe.
Gadebe says construction will come to a halt.
“A notice of contravention will be issued, ordering the contraveners to cease with all works on site, up to the time that the application is considered for approval,” he says.
SENSATIONALISM at its best , how many of the people who signed the petition own a Mobile phone ,…(all i’m sure) ,…and tomorrow they will be calling the operators to complain about poor coverage and services.
They should be glad the operators are listening to their requests for coverage ,as they not listening to mine …..PS the picture shown looks to be about 35-40meters tall, i’d say,…and really! how much can a operator install on a 14,5meter pole ?
Has anyone asked the operator if a EMF study was carried out to assess impact on health? If they comply to the international stds, then whats the problem ,….sounds like we all want coverage ,but it must come from someone else’s backyard.
Do your homework! there’s more people that want better cellphone service than those opposed to this .