Bronte mobilizes against cell tower plans

Bronte mobilizes against cell tower plans

Residents find backing from C4ST

Bronte mobilizes against cell tower plans

Hannah Yoon, Oakville Beaver

Kathy McAlpine, of C4ST (Canadians for Safe Technology), Fiona Walker, Ron Devries, and Betty Ulanowski with signs protesting proposed cell towers in their neighbourhood.

Aug 09, 2013  |   

 

Oakville Beaver

ByDavid Lea

As two cell tower proposals look for a foothold in Bronte, residents opposed to the plans have found backing from  local-turned-national lobby group Canadians for Safe Technology (C4ST).

West Street resident Fiona Walker said she is concerned about a 14.9 metre Bell Mobility radio communications facility proposed for 3135 Lakeshore Rd. W., citing the possible health impacts having a cell tower so close to her home may bring.

The tower is proposed for the property, which Drago’s Autobody currently rents.

“I don’t think these things belong in residential areas,” said Walker.

“There’s no research to say it’s definitely safe or it’s definitely dangerous because it’s too early. I think we should learn from smoking and asbestos where, if you look at those now, a bit of caution would have been a good thing. What is the downside to playing it safe?”

Walker questions why the tower is needed stating she believes Bell service in the area is fine.

Walker is not alone in her worries.

Area resident Steffanie Lusk also questions the proposed tower location.

“I’ll admit, I don’t know the first thing about bio-levels and what levels of radiation emit from these things, but it is the unknown that makes all of us, as homeowners, scared to death,” said Lusk in a letter sent to the Oakville Beaver.

“If this tower should go up, what will the outcome be to our health 10 or 20 years from now? Should we worry every time we let our kids go outside to play?”

On Aug. 9 the Town of Oakville issued a press release stating that they do not have the authority to block this cell tower.

"Unfortunately the law does not grant us jurisdiction to approve or deny the installation of these towers," said Oakville Mayor Rob Burton.

"That said, the Town of Oakville’s Interim Radiocommunications Protocol clearly states that the Town will not support any radiocommunication tower located within 200 metres of a sensitive land use including residential areas. Industry Canada has been and continues to be informed of the town’s position of this issue. However, jurisdiction to approve is solely within Industry Canada’s control.”

Meanwhile C4ST is mobilizing residents against the cell tower plans.

The group was founded in Oakville, an offshoot to the Citizens for Clean Air (C4CA) that took on the provincial government over the proposed gas plant in southeast Oakville.

C4ST, like C4CA, is headed by Oakville’s Frank Clegg.

However, according to its members, it is now a national organization whose goal is to empower the public to protect children and youths from unsafe wireless technologies.

So far the group has been responsible for raising awareness about the cell tower issue in Bronte by distributing flyers and directing residents to call Bell and Industry Canada to voice their opposition to the 3135 Lakeshore Rd. W. cell tower.

The commenting period runs until Aug. 10.

“The more comments received, the stronger the message that the community is concerned,” said C4ST CEO Frank Clegg in a press release.

“While the Town of Oakville cannot stop the tower, it can issue a Non-Concurrence to indicate to Industry Canada it does not support the site. Please urge Councillor Ralph Robinson and Mayor (Rob) Burton to do so. The absence of public feedback implies consent.”

Clegg said an email form that will allow residents to register their opinion is available at www.c4st.org/cell-tower-situations/cell-tower-situations/item/situations/dragos-autobody.html.

The Lakeshore Road West cell tower is not the only facility C4ST is currently combating in Bronte.

The group is also calling on residents to fight a series of commercial antenna/towers proposed by Rogers Communications for the roof of the residential community of Bronte Estates.

In this situation, C4ST is also urging residents to pressure Town council to issue a Non-Concurrence to show its opposition to the cell tower location.

For both Lakeshore Road West and Bronte Estates proposals, C4ST also recommends appealing to the property owner.

In both cases, if the cell towers go forward Clegg said Rogers and Bell could be asked to reduce the power density of the towers to the point where they would be less likely to compromise human health.

“At a public meeting at the Cawthra Seniors Centre, in Mississauga on Sept. 5, 2012, a Bell Canada representative , when asked, said that the radiation levels from the tower at a distance of four metres could be 10,000 times less than Health Canada’s Safety Code 6, and still provide the service desired,” said Clegg.

“We are asking for the same level of protection. The more comments received, the stronger the message that the community is concerned.”

Halton Region’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Bob Nosal, has said there is no convincing evidence weak radio frequency signals from cell towers cause adverse health effects.

However Nosal has also acknowledged the agreement between Health Canada, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the International Agency for Research on Cancer that additional research is warranted.

http://www.insidehalton.com/news-story/4025926-bronte-mobilizes-against-cell-tower-plans/