Leilani de Bod woke up one morning to find there’s a ‘mini’ cell phone tower and accompanying power supply box on her stoep.
The view from her front porch on Leerdam Street had been obstructed overnight by contractors of Erricson installing a City Power-approved MTN cell phone mast on the corner. If she hadn’t awakened from her alarm clock going off, she certainly awoke because the newly-installed power supply box has a hum distinguishable from the average morning traffic on the quiet suburban road.
De Bod decided to contact the Record and ward councillor Gert Niemand, upset that no one had bothered to inform her, ask her permission or publish a notice in her local newspaper that service providers have the right to install a cell phone tower where a street light used to be on any given road in the neighbourhood. Moreover, she was frustrated that the placement of the power supply box also providing trouble-seekers easy access to the yard, it being installed a few centimeters from the bordering pallisades. The trenches dug and accompanying neon material put up to barricade it from the walkway is also obstructing traffic, she complained. The developments took place about a month ago and the municipality and service provider is still to remedy the situation.
Last Wednesday (9 September) Niemand invited all relevant stakeholders to visit and inspect the site with him in order to propose plausible solutions to the De Bod family. Derrick Alexander from City Power, José Garrido from Erricson and CEO Michael Bluff and engineer Gerhard Froneman from Delphius, who designed the tower and power supply, were on scene to investigate.
Niemand communicated the family’s concerns and Froneman proceeded to measure the noise level at between 61 and 65 dB, which is according to them well below the 85 dB that would start affecting people’s hearing.
After trying to talk away public participation, Garrido retrieved documents to prove to Niemand that registered mail was sent to at least four residents of the road on 5 May to explain their intentions. According to by-laws, after receiving such registered mail, residents have 21 days to lodge objections with stakeholders, but Garrido claimed no objections were received. Niemand reiterated that no public meeting was held, nor was he notified that construction would start. Niemand also challenged the placing of the tower and power supply, as it was designated to be installed two to three meters down the road, not on the corner. Garrido explained they would have interrupted the sewerage line.
After many debates about procedure, Garrido proposed the De Bod’s boundary wall, facing Leerdam Street, should be extended, replacing pallisades, to reduce the noise level. He also proposed they put up electric fencing around the property to secure it, ignoring the placement of the power supply box. It remains unclear who would be held liable for the cost thereof.
The Record could unfortunately not reach De Bod for comment after her initial complaint.
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