Station Ridge Road tower approved

DOZENS of furious Redhill residents met last week after it was revealed that the City had approved the application for a 30-metre cell phone tower on Station Ridge Road.

Residents said that is was unreasonable to erect such a massive tower in a residential area and were shocked that the proposal had been approved. With six other towers in a 600 metre radius the residents said they felt that there were more than enough towers for MTN to provide adequate services to their clients. The community now plans to appeal the eThekwini Municipality’s approval.

Belinda Bronkhorst said her main concerns were still the health risks associated with these towers as well as devaluation of her property.

Lu Harman said the planned tower would be built onto a neighbouring property.

“It seems immoral that corporates can lease residential land for industrial purposes. It puts the financially vulnerable in a position where they cannot say no, even if it’s to their own detriment. Our municipal leaders need to care for their residents by ensuring residential land act laws protect the citizen and areas zoned as residential. Why can’t this tower be placed in an industrial area a stone’s throw away?” she asked.

Paul Buttery, senior regional manager for MTN said the cellular giant had the interests of the communities at heart and was committed to establishing a safe and reliable network that complies with international safety guidelines (ICNIRP).

He said due to a ‘digital boom’ there had been a significant growth in demand for high speed data services coming from affluent suburbs, such as Durban North, and as such have planned to erect many other similar towers in the Durban North and surrounding areas.

For more information on the appeal contact Lu Harman via harman.louise7@gmail.com.

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