PRINGLE BAY – An appeal was lodged by Heatwave Consultants against the Municipal Planning Tribunal’s decision in February not to approve the removal of restrictive title deed conditions, a consent use, and a departure in order to erect a transmission tower on Erf 428, Pringle Bay. Heatwave Consultants also appealed against a similar decision by the Municipal Planning Tribunal regarding the possible erection of a transmission tower on Erf 2666, 201 Porter Drive, Betty’s Bay. The Herald’s enquiries with the Town Planning Department of Overstrand Municipality about this turn of events delivered no response. However, it learned from a posting on the Facebook page of the Pringle Bay Ratepayers’ Association that the municipality has invited comments in response to the appeal, which must reach them by 21 May 2022. The appeal authority is the executive mayor. Only those who lodged an objection/comments to the original application (Municipal Notice 93/2021) and submitted it on or before 23 July 2021, may submit comments or objections to this appeal. In the case of the Pringle Bay application 82 comments were received and no letters of support, and in the Betty’s Bay situation there were 17 objections and no letters of support. The PBRA indicated that they will be responding in the same vein as to the original application, in other words, they do not support the erection of this tower, whether as a 25m high tower or, as is now requested, as an 18m tower, for the reasons stated at the time. According to the post Pringle Bay is about to be serviced with fibre optic communication network(s) which will allow voice over internet protocols (VOIP) and other benefits. The PBRA invited members to share their comments with the PBRA. People who would like to receive a copy of the appeal documentation, can contact Bertie Vorster via vicechair@pringlebayratepayers.co.za. However, this time there are some community members who are according to their responses not dead set against the proposal. Brent Murphy commented by asking if the tower is not perhaps a good thing as reception data connectivity could improve. Enrico Morton’s opinion is that if the application is kept being turned down, people should not complain about the loss of signal. In Betty’s Bay there are mixed feelings about the communication tower, with residents for and against it, says Betty’s Bay Ratepayers’ Association’s chairperson, Wayne Jackson. While it is seen as important for communication purposes, the feeling is that another site must be found where it is less obtrusive.
