C LA RE M ONT/ROND E B OS C H Hearing Tests • Hearing Aids Hearing Protection
NOW OPEN in Claremont! Visit us for opening specials on PHONAK hearing aids! Tel: (021) 683-5590 12 Lansdowne Road, Claremont www.earinstitute.co.za
“ Te l lin g it a s it i s” E-mail: post@peoplespost.co.za
Tuesday 15 March 2011
Tel: 021 713 9440 Fax: 021 713 9481
SPEAK OUT: Various human rights organisations protested against “corrective rape” of lesbi ans on Sunday. A memorandum was handed over to the Minister of Justice, Jeff Radebe, at Parlia ment. Pictured is Lumka Peter (31) from Khayelitsha. Photo: Albi Fouche
WPCC confirms cellphone mast location TERESA FISCHER
T
HE Western Province Cricket Club (WPCC) has announced the location of a Vodacom cellphone mast and base station on its grounds. The issue dates back to 2004 (“Bid has painfully familiar ring”, Peo ple’s Post, 16 March 2010). The chosen site is on the northern side of the WPCC, on the grass immediately west of the tennis courts, and as far away from Avenue de Mist as possible. This follows a public meeting on 2 November 2010, and several months of internal discussions between WPPC, Vodacom and town planners. WPPC chairperson, Paul Burton, says the committee is satisfied that no commitments are being reneged upon, and that the club has acted ethically and openly. Land Use Planning approval was granted on 11 September 2009. Changes to the Environmental Impact Assessment regulations on 2
August 2010 and the subsequent reduction in the height of the proposed mast, from 23 metres to 15 metres, made EIA assessments for masts under 15 metres redundant (“Mast outbreak predicted”, People’s Post, 2 November 2010). Resident Roy van Ballegooyen writes that he is “extremely disappointed” that he has now been presented with a “fait accompli”. Van Ballegooyen has been arguing for the mast to be placed at a site where the impacts on aggregate are the least for all affected. He says: “I and many other detractors have had no sporting chance to engage in this process or test its findings. This can in no way be considered to be the open and ethical process that WPCC and Vodacom claim.” Van Ballegooyen wrote to the WPCC asking the club to explain its motivation for deciding that the tennis court site is preferable to the original site. He also questions whether the WPCC or Vodacom would be prepared to provide compensation
should health effects be found to be a concern 10 or 20 years down the line. WPCC chairman, Paul Burton, responds: “The WPCC has engaged extensively on this matter over many years. At the conclusion of the open meeting we called (on 2 November 2010), WPCC undertook to re-look the issues agreed.” He adds that at no stage did WPCC give any indication of an intention to engage further. Instead it gave an undertaking to provide feedback, which he says was done on Friday 11 March. Burton says: “WPCC have more than honoured all commitments; we do not wish to argue this matter, least of all via vitriolic dialogue in the media. Suffice it to say, WPCC has the overwhelming support from its members, the community and immediate neighbours for Vodacom to proceed with this mast.” Leif Eriksen, another resident, who supports the mast, says if Van Ballegooyen’s suggestion was be accepted it would necessitate starting the entire town planning process all
over again, meaning a delay of at least two years. Eriksen believes the WPCC has decided in the interests of “by far the majority of the Rondebosch residents” concerned, that they should proceed as is. He adds that personally, as a resident, he is “thrilled”. “Reception is shocking, and I know of many other people in Rondebosch who battle to make and receive calls,” he says. Another resident, Naomi Peagam, feels the WPCC has been “unbelievably patient” in their approach and points out the club uses funds generated by hosting the mast to fund maintenance of the grounds, which are open to the public. Ward councillor, Alderman Owen Kinahan, says the WPCC bid has been “going on for so long it feels like it pre-dates Alexander Graham Bell”. According to Kinahan there are only two relevant points to the application. “The City’s policy on telecommunications takes its cue from national legislation, which in turn is guided by UNESCO (United Na-
tions Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) with respect to the health risks of cell masts. “The overwhelming balance of scientific opinion is that there is a far greater threat of radiation from domestic microwave ovens, let alone the cellphones that everybody seems to have permanently glued to their ears, than from cell masts. Until such time as international consensus directs a more cautionary approach, there will be no change in policy,” he says. He continues that there has been “more than sufficient opportunity” for public input on this application. Alderman Kinahan says: “Wherever the mast is sited, it is going to be in someone’s sightline and the only solution is for no mast at all. This must also be seen in the context of the improved signal being for the benefit of the entire surrounding community, as well as those who make use of the facilities in this precinct, and nothing short of an agreement by all of them to accept the area as a cell-free zone is going to please everyone.”
CASH TILES
(t) 021 447 6111
91 DURHAM AVE, SALT RIVER from
R29.95 R29.95 /m² R39.95 /m² Imported Floor Tiles R39.95 Imported Wall Tiles
from
while stocks last VISA AND MASTERCARD ACCEPTED MasterCard®®
from
Terracotta Tiles Imported Glazed Porcelain (60x60)
R49.95 R49.95 /m² R110.00/m² R110.00
from
WE ARE OPEN PUBLIC HOLIDAY 21st MARCH 9am-1pm