Northway residents win cell antenna battle
MTN withdraws application for cell mast antenna on Kenneth Kaunda Road.
LOCAL residents have won their fight against plans for a three meter high antenna at a residential home on Kenneth Kaunda (Northway). At the time MTN, said it required additional new low profile base stations in Durban North because of the migration of business’s out of the Durban CBD into the Northern Suburbs, such as Durban North.
This is the second defeat for cell phone network giant, MTN, following the victory of Umhlanga Manors residents who opposed a 25 meter high cell mast in close proximity to residents’ homes.
Joanne Hathrill, who has led the fight on behalf of the residents on Northway said the victory was due to the community taking a collective stand and working together.
“When we saw the notices about the proposed antenna, my mother and I went around getting signatures for a petition to oppose it. We were then told that it would require individual objection letters which we also submitted. A year later and at the beginning of November, we were told that MTN had been granted permission to go ahead with the plan. We then learnt that we could appeal the decision which we did, and a few days ago we were told they had decided to cancel the project,” she explained.
Hathrill added she believed the victory was a ‘supernatural miracle’.
“We were never sure of the outcome but as a family, we decided to make a stand. We were very concerned for young children and babies in our community from a health perspective. With the support of my husband, mom and knowing the community were behind us, giving us their support and encouragement, made this journey interesting and worthwhile.
“The community were amazing and I just want to thank everyone for their super effort, including Laura Taylor, who was part of the Toti conservancy, who added her expertise about the dangers of cell towers and antennas,” she said.
She hoped residents of Leslie Avenue and Station Ridge Road who are also battling the cellphone network to oppose the construction of two masts, could take heart from the residents’ victory and work together.
