Plea to drop mast plan
Road safety and flooding fears
More than 170 people have signed a petition calling on communications companies to abandon their plans for a mast on Greenlees Road.
Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure Limited (CTIL) and Telefónica have proposed building a telecommunications mast near the junction of East Greenlees Road and Murdoch Avenue.
They say it will improve 3G and 4G coverage in the area.
But a petition started just days ago already has signatures from almost every household in the immediate area.
People from Murdoch Avenue, Wallace Wynd, Bruce Avenue, Tanzieknowe Avenue and Baird Gate have all put their weight behind the campaign to fight it.
Jan Graham, who started the petition with neighbours, said: “Every single person living in this area is opposed to the mast, I couldn’t find anyone in favour of it.
“This area floods badly and is a hot spot for road accidents.
“If you get rain it comes down from the Dechmont Hills and it actually bubbles like a spring and runs on to the road. It forms there at the lowest point and the drains can’t cope with it.
“The other thing is road safety. The generators and sub stations that accompany masts are hefty and they will block visibility for cyclists, motorists and road users alike.”
Jan and her neighbours are also mystified as to how a planning application for the mast could succeed on this land as they believe it was designated as greenbelt in 2003.
Following a public enquiry in relation to house building at that time, the land was apparently designated as defendable greenbelt.
Pauline Elliott, head of planning and economic development, said: “The planning service has been notified by Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure Limited of their intention to erect a mast at the end of Murdoch Avenue, Cambuslang. However, to date no formal planning application has been lodged.
“If a planning application is received, a decision will be made at that time as to whether comments would be sought from the roads service [in terms of flooding and road safety].”
A spokeswoman for CITL said: “O2 customers expect to be able to use their mobiles and devices where they live, work and travel.
“Base stations are low powered devices which cover approximately half a mile in radius, therefore we have to put base stations close to our customers.
“O2 have identified that they needed to improve the coverage to their customers in Cambuslang and have proposed a base station at the junction of East Greenlees Road and Murdoch Avenue.
“As a result of our consultation locally we have reduced the height of the proposed structure. The proposed base station will provide 3G and 4G coverage to the local area.
“All O2 base stations operate well within guideline safety limits, below these guidelines there is no evidence of adverse health effects for any members of the public.”