Chester cellphone tower meeting leaves residents unsatisfied
Dozens of people in Chester, N.S., attended a meeting Wednesday night to protest a new cellphone tower built in the community.
A group, called Concerned Citizens For the Removal of the New Eastlink Cell Phone Tower, has a number of objections to the 22-metre high tower.
Member Lou Boudreau says one concern is the level of public consultation leading up to the construction of the tower.
Many who attended the meeting were hoping it would shed light on how the process unfolded.
"There seems to be a lot of finger pointing between government agencies and the municipality and the village commission about the protocol. One says, 'Well, they're supposed to handle it and they're supposed to sign off on it.' And once again it just led to a little bit more confusion in my mind anyway as to what was the process followed at all, " Boudreau said.
He said people at the meeting are angry and are still looking for answers from the municipality, the federal government and the company.
Village commissioner chairman Bill Zinck Jr. could not be reached for comment.
In a press release, the group acknowledged the municipal government did place two ads in a local paper and also sent a letter to property owners within 75 metres of the tower. Of the seven property owners contacted by the community group, four said they did not receive written notification.
"I think the first thing is, we need to find out what really transpired between the municipality, the village commission, Eastlink, the fire department and the councilllors," Boudreau said.
