A group of residents, calling themselves Think Community, is snapping at both MTN and LRA for allegedly conniving to construct a Blandford Ridge tower without informing the residents.
Trevor Nel, head of Think Community who is in the forefront of fighting for the removal of the tower released a 10-point document citing his backers’ grievances.
Nel gave MTN until 4 November to remove the tower or face legal action. He added that the tower, which was erected 3m from the Blandford complex, had health implications and has the potential to drop the value of their properties by between 25 percent and 50 percent.
Also read Conflicting views on cell tower masts
He also lashed out at the LRA which, he said, no longer enjoyed the trust of residents. “The issue of trust in the LRA to adequately represent their community was raised,” said Nel.
LRA director, John Siddall, however, dismissed Nel as a disgruntled former LRA director bent on discrediting the association by coming up with a rival resident group.
Siddall maintained that the residents were informed via his association’s online newsletter. He added that the majority of the association’s 1 400 resident members attended the launch of the fibre broadband cable in April this year at Lonehill Park where they were informed about the inclusion of a tower in the project.
“We never received any objection until the construction of the Blandford Ridge tower. Instead, these fibre broadband cables being installed by MTN in Lonehill homes will boost the quality of Internet and mobile phone services in the area, apart from assisting to fighting crime through the connection of circuit TV,” said Siddall in an exclusive interview with Fourways Review.
Siddall denied authorising the construction of the MTN tower and maintained that the LRA was not a licensing authority.
He, however, told this paper that LRA met with MTN officials on 4 November and briefed the giant mobile service provider on the complaints raised by Blandford Ridge complex residents.
Moore confirmed that he had signed a no objection form which paved the way for the construction of MTN towers in his ward. “By the time I signed, no-one had objected to the MTN project,” said Moore.
About 13 MTN towers are already up in Lonehill and one more is still to be built, but only the Blandford Ridge tower sparked resistance because of its proximity to the residential complex.
MTN’s general manager of radio planning and optimisation, Krishna Chetty, announced that her technical team would explore the possibilities of moving the Brandford Ridge tower to another location within Lonehill.
Chetty denied allegations that MTN constructed towers before informing residents. “In a bid to improve network coverage and quality in accordance with the contract we have with City Power, MTN replaced an existing light pole that was adjacent to Blandford Ridge estate with a purpose-built pole. This initiative of substituting some municipal infrastructure with network antennas was supported by the LRA who affirmed this with a letter of support they provided to MTN,” said Chetty.
“The LRA also informed the residents by way of notice and on their website of the planned poles within Lonehill which members of the association had access to view and provide their comments, to which no comments were received for this specific pole and hence the support of the LRA.”
Chetty also dispelled the notion that the towers were a health hazard. “MTN has complied with all health and safety regulations governing the construction of such infrastructure,” she added.
Also read Eco-estates at war over cell mast
Want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp?
Send a WhatsApp message with your name to 079 439 5345
