MARSHFIELD, P.E.I. — A Marshfield resident is upset with Eastlink’s proposed location for a telecommunication tower – and not too happy with how the selection process has unfolded.
Mitchell DeJong says he organized a petition that has been signed by roughly 90 Marshfield area residents opposing the proposed location set back approximately 765 metres off of St. Peters Road.
He said residents are concerned with potential health risks from exposure to radiation as well as troubled by any possible negative impact on property value.
“What it more or less is, is the community doesn’t like where it is going,’’ said DeJong, who added the proposed site is near his property.
“I’d like to look out my back door and see a beautiful piece of land. Now this thing will be sitting there.’’
However, Eastlink spokeswoman Jill Laing said the proposed site is approximately half a kilometre away from the nearest residence.
“We work hard to find tower site locations that provide excellent coverage for the community while minimizing any impacts to the communities we serve, including minimizing the number of infrastructure locations required to serve a community,’’ she said.
Laing said the proposed location would help Eastlink improve cellular coverage in the area.
She added the company is in the midst of the public notification phase, which is meant to capture community feedback before a final decision is made.
She confirmed Eastlink has received the petition and will take it into consideration “before any next steps are taken”.
DeJong claims even though a landowner told Eastlink he did not want the tower on a certain portion of his property, Eastlink still identified that area as a potential site for the first proposal. Eastlink, he added, has since identified a revised tower location where he believes the landowner wants it to go.
“It seems like a sneaky way of going around things,’’ said DeJong.
Eastlink has issued a public notice inviting comments, questions and inquiries mailed to wireless site planner Logan McDaid at 6080 Young St., 6th Floor, Halifax, N.S., B3K 5L2; by phone at 902-818-5971; or email at [email protected].