In its reflection to prevent the installation of the building on the hill of Abadie, the town hall of Saint-André is working on a pooling of operators. THIERRY ZOCCOLAN / AFP
In addition to the visual pollution, some local residents point to the “lack of engineering characteristics” communicated by the operator, with regard to the waves emitted by the antenna.
Le Figaro Nice
North-east of Nice, on the hilly road that leads to Tourrette-Levens, the small town of Saint-André-de-la-Roche appears as a green refuge, both urban and rural, modern and preserved. Some 5000 souls share this territory at the top of which stands the hill of Abadie, a natural belvedere on the Baie des Anges. Also, the Free operator’s plan to install a relay antenna (3G, 4G, 5G) at this location is perceived as heresy by many residents and defenders of the site.
In fact, residents are firmly opposed to it and have asked to be heard by the municipal council meeting at the start of the week. They also launched a petition which has already gathered nearly 300 signatures. The mayor of Saint-André, Jean-Jacques Carlin, shares the concern of his constituents. “I am not hostile to progress, but in conditions and places more suitable than the hill of Abadie. Especially since this antenna, which we are told must be between 8 and 12 meters high, will stand in the middle of the houses, barely a few meters from one of them in particular.he explains to Figaro.
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We realize that there is only little information communicated and above all that the deadlines are very short. Barely a month after the file is submitted to the town hall, the operator can already start the work
Didier Chouvy, President of the L’Abadie Interests Defense Committee (CDIA)
A visual pollution that the city councilor denounces, even if he says he is helpless in the face of the operator who does not need his agreement to install his metal antenna. “Because it does not exceed a certain height, we have no say in it. The operator has filed a public register on the project with the town hall, but this is not necessarily very clear. For our part, we have opened a list of grievances in which everyone is invited to express their disagreement, even if, in fact, it does not change anything.he continues.
In this notebook, of which we have been able to consult a few extracts, the unfavorable opinions are numerous. Some local residents point out in particular “lack of engineering features” communicated by the operator, with regard to the waves emitted by the antenna. “We realize that there is only little information communicated and above all that the deadlines are very short. Barely a month after the file is submitted to the town hall, the operator can already begin the work,” blows on his side Didier Chouvy, the president of the Committee for the defense of the interests of L’Abadie (CDIA). Above all, he denounces the lack of consultation with residents about the future antenna. “And then it’s anxiety-provoking for people. We are told that it cannot be placed less than 100 meters from a school, but on the other hand, in direct proximity to dwellings, no problem. It’s not about creating psychosis, but still. We would like to be enlightened on the possible health risks in relation to the waves emitted”he argues again.
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For a pooling of operators
In its reflection to prevent the installation of the building on the hill of Abadie, the town hall of Saint-André is working on a pooling of operators. Jean-Jacques Carlin is now in contact with his neighbor Tourrette-Levens, whose town already hosts a relay antenna. “It is barely 500 meters away as the crow flies, in a secluded area that does not bother anyone. Free could very well use it for its network., pleads the city councilor, who assures that his counterpart sees no inconvenience. Contacted, the operator did not respond to our requests. “We have already had eye contact with them, then through two letters and two calls. We are in discussion”concludes the mayor of Saint-André.
Already last week, in a hamlet of Coutras (Gironde), residents protested against a similar project by the same operator in the heart of a wooded area of their town. “No one wants this wart ! It’s an enormity ! A monstrosity !“, had revolted one of them, supported by the mayor, Jérôme Cosnard. “When you look for the countryside, you feel like a prisoner with an antenna near your home“, had pleaded in this sense the Girondin aedile.