Mixed signals over cell towers

THE convenience of a strong cellphone signal, but concerns over the unknown effects of cell tower radiation, sums up the feelings of Talk of the Town’s Facebook readers.

Following our front page story last week, TotT asked our Facebook readers: “How would you feel if a cellphone tower was erected close to your home?”

Colleen Denniss commented, “Tell them to take it down. . .” which received a number of likes from other Facebook users.

James Rodden wrote, “Aren’t there any parameters that need to be filled first? Seeking permission from the surrounding homeowners and possible compensation as well?”

Helmut Hartleb asked: “What would you do without the new tech? Everyone wants to use the cellphone.”

Andrew Lamei agreed stating, “I [would] be glad as then I’d have a freaking good signal at least and not saying, ‘can you hear me now, how about now?’”

Lamei continued: “What most don’t realise is that a cell tower is, for a lot of people, a lifeline. Imagine your retired parent having an emergency and being unable to walk to the landline? How would you feel then?”

Beverly Young wrote, “I would hate that and would campaign to have it stopped. My phone is not that important. However, my peace is my mantra.”

Ethel Damarell Pullen said she would join any group that was against it.

Jerome Roger Boulle said it was a, “bit of a double edged sword – ‘they’ have oversold the bandwidth hence our lousy coms. Being next door to the tower might get you better coms, but the full implications of being continuously exposed to such a field are potentially dangerous and poorly understood.

“Having worked extensively in rural areas in the pre-cellphone era, we coped pretty well under the circumstances. We were more in contact with our patients and their needs in many ways, and made others aware of their and our movements.

“In some ways the concept of constant ‘connectivity’ has been sold as a ‘must have’ yet, when circumstances change, we readily adapt.”

Khanyisa Siyongwana said she would not have a problem with a cell tower being erected near her home and would be happy about it in fact. “My signal is mental and it affects my not very cheap data.”

Gavin Came wrote, “I would immediately sell my cell and campaign to have cellphones outlawed so that no one has to live next to a tower”.

Russell Deutschmann said, “a tower is in someone else’s space, and we accept it. Don’t care as long as we are OK and not affected.”

Warwick Heny wrote, “I have one near me already and but I do worry about the radiation. Wi-Fi, connectivity and all that is amazing and it’s good to have but I do believe there are ill effects caused from them.”

Dorothy Anne Sutton wrote, “love it as long as it's Vodacom”.

Julia Fraser wrote, “Would not be happy at all. Not enough time has elapsed such that we know the effects of being near a tower.”

Adele Steck wrote: “From a health perspective I would say no to erecting more towers. It also reduces property value if a tower is near your property.”