To the Editor,
Re: Residents oppose cell tower, Feb. 3.
I take exception to the statement made by a Rogers spokesman that the proposed location of the tower would have the “least impact” on residents. I am a resident of Plecas Road and am devastated by this proposal – “least impact” on who – their own financial picture?
The reality is that this cell tower is very close to homes, about 23 metres. No one is in agreement with this location right in the middle of a very unique rural neighbourhood.
This tower belongs in an industrial site and not 23 metres away from an existing residence; there are no trees in place that will mask this tower. Plecas Road is not a safe site for a cell tower and alternative sites must be explored.
Emphasis must be placed on the preservation and protection of this rural neighbourhood; properties like those on Plecas Road are becoming very scarce and would be altered greatly by this proposal. These properties have been nurtured over many years to enjoy a rural lifestyle which does not include a cell tower flashing above our heads.
We do not agree with the tower location and vehemently oppose it.
Lynn RaffleNanaimo
To the Editor,
Re: Residents oppose cell tower, Feb. 3.
This neighborhood all feels the same way when it comes to the idea of a 50-metre cellphone tower. We moved here onto a street with country lots away from the city. We are surrounded by wildlife and nature. No street light pollution to spoil our starry nights. We are all outraged with the proposed cellphone tower. Rogers called an information meeting for the community on Jan. 26 and 70 angry homeowners attended.
Land owners worry about property value dropping; Rogers claims it has no bearing on it. Would you move to the country beside a cell tower with blinking bright lights? Would you worry about the perception that the towers cause cancer and other side effects? Whether or not it’s proven, people believe it’s true and some studies support the fear. Studies in the U.S., Austria, Germany, and Israel, dating as far back as the 1970s, all shared similar findings: living within a certain proximity to a cellphone tower increased the risk of cancer anywhere from two to 121 times.
Please let our voices and frustration be heard. Please let a community have a say in what happens in our area.
R. TrienkeNanaimo