RESIDENTS FIGHT CELL TOWER APPROVAL

Annthia Road residents who are against the approved application for a telecommunication tower to be erected on the grounds of a private residence on their street will be appealing the decision.

Their formal objection that was submitted in March last year was dismissed by the uMgungundlovu joint municipal planning tribunal this month.

The tribunal approved the American Tower Corporation’s (ATC) application to build a 35m ‘Yellowwood Mono-lattice Tree telecommunication mast’ on a private property on Annthia Road.

Residents are against the mast for various reasons, the two main ones being the health risks incurred from the frequencies emitted by the radio waves, as well as the fear it will be aesthetically displeasing, take away from Hilton’s village feel and also potentially contribute to a drop in property values in the area.

The tribunal gave the following reasons for its decision to approve: The proposal was consistent with the municipality’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and Spatial Development Framework (SDF); the proposal was compatible with surrounding land uses and the general character of the area; the development provides an essential service to the surrounding neighbourhood.

It added that it had taken the residents’ objections into account when making this decision.

Annthia Road resident Kevan Zunckel, who had formerly objected and attended the tribunal meeting last year, said the tribunal had not taken the residents’ objections seriously.

He said some of the homeowners’ comments had been twisted and although providing ample evidence on the negative health impacts of the emission of 5G connection on residents living in close proximity to the tower, the tribunal maintained not enough evidence had substantiated the objection. An online petition had also circulated last year, garnering more than 200 signatures.

Zunckel said the residents have “more than enough grounds to appeal the decision”.

“There is overwhelming evidence to prove the health impacts of these towers, but people would rather ignore these warnings for the benefit of faster internet,” he said, adding that the 1km radius around the mast site falls within the zones of Laddsworth Primary, St Anne’s College and Golden Pond Retirement Village.

“We have children and the elderly who will be affected by electromagnetic fields,” he said.

The closing date to appeal is June 4, and Zunckel is appealing to residents who object to this development to lodge their formal appeal before then.

Appeals can be sent to uMngeni Municipal Planning Appeal Authority Registrar Thami Mkhuthukane. Phone 033 239 9214 / thami.mkhuthukane@umngeni.gov.za

By hand: 2 Somme St, Howick, 3290

By post: Box 5, Howick, 3290