RESIDENTS HORRIFIED OVER MAST PROPOSAL
Residents in the Ballinamona area of Mitchelstown are horrified at a plan to erect a mobile phone mast in their area. The mast, which is to be 30 metres high, is part of the Vodafone mobile network. Residents are concerned about the chosen site as there is a creche and a football club in the area.
Local resident Geraldine Sheehan told The Avondhu, “A planning notice went up for the mast and it’s proposed that it will be within 170 metres of my back door. This is extremely close to my house. We are concerned for our children’s health, I mean can Vodafone guarantee that my family and I will not suffer any health problems as a result of having the mast sited there? Also I am worried that our property will become less marketable as a result of all this.”
Cllr Frank O’Flynn (FF) said: “I think it is unacceptable for these masts to be located so close to where people live, there is a creche and a football club near the proposed site and I would call on the planners to reconsider this application by Vodafone. There are a lot of other masts in the Mitchelstown area, perhaps Vodafone could use these to co-locate their equipment?”
Vodafone told The Avondhu that they would be issuing a statement about the proposed 30-metre mast in due course.
“My problem is that nobody in the area is aware of this planning application and the notice is positioned where very few people would see it. My husband and myself went to the planning office in Cork and lodged an objection to this mast. We must let people in the area know what is happening under their noses before it is too late.
"There are many issues concerning telecommunications masts including the effect of thermal and no-thermal radiation on those who live within the immediate area of the mast,” Geraldine Sheehan said.
Published:
Thursday 15th January 5:07pm
