The construction of a cellphone tower on the grounds of Sir Lowry’s Pass Primary, which began early in February has suddenly been halted after it was disclosed that the school did not apply to the Western Cape Minister of Education.
This comes after community members expressed concern they were not informed of the construction and also mindful of possible negative health impacts this could have on the village.
“Many residents were surprised a cellphone tower is being built on school property, and in such close proximity to a residential area,” said Frankton Mcdonald, a community member of Sir Lowry’s Pass. “I approached the contractors on site who confirmed that this was a cellphone tower, but refused to divulge more information. People started asking more questions and days later all contractors were off site and the construction halted. Most residents, including parents of children at the school, don’t recall any notice of a public participation process, there’s no notice at the construction site, we just don’t know what’s going on.”
The Western Cape Education Department was approached for comment as the construction is taking place on school property.
Kerry Mauchline, spokesperson to Minister Debbie Schäfer, said the role of the minister is to approve the construction of physical infrastructure on school property and that other processes are dealt with by the municipality subject to national cellphone mast safety regulations.
She said: “The cellphone service provider, their consultant and the school need to comply with any requirements of the approval process, including the required public participation process. In this instance, the school did not apply to the minister, and has been advised that they need to do so before continuing any construction.”
It was also stated that the company involved is ATC Towers.
Eddie Andrews, Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, confirmed that on 5 November 2020 council approved a consent use application and relevant building line departures to permit a free standing cellular base station on Erf 1281 Sir Lowry’s pass, with conditions.
These included limiting the height of the tower from the original 21m to 18 m and the planting of more trees for screening purposes, among others.
Said Andrews: “The City’s internal departments also provided for certain requirements in terms of other relevant legislation that need to be complied with, which were included in the land use approval as administrative notices for the applicant/operator’s information. Such requirements also included that a public exclusion zone is determined by a qualified person and has to be submitted to the City prior to the erection of the infrastructure and that such exclusion zone to be clearly marked. It furthermore required that access control measures be implemented. “The application was advertised through the serving of 23 notices to surrounding property owners, the local ward Councillor and a notice was placed on site in the three official languages of the province. No objections were received.
“The location of the base station on site was decided in consultation with the land owner and deemed the best location, also that it would not impact on the school activities. There is also a servitude registered over the subject property, which limited the location of the tower.”
Andrews did not elaborate on why the project appeared to be halted nor when it would continue, but assured that the approved plan also indicates that the area where the infrastructure is located is enclosed with a 2,4 m high clear view fence with spikes on top with a lockable access gate.
Mcdonald said all the community wanted is to be informed of decisions being taken around them, especially developments that could impact their everyday lives. “We still don’t know how this will benefit the community,” he said.
