Citizens rocked in front of a telecommunications tour project

A group of citizens in the immediate sector has been formed in the last days. For example, distributes leaflets and now circulates an online petition to oppose the project. Meanwhile, Dated June 26, 122 people had signed it.

In three days. In addition, it is not negligible knowing that 140 leaflets were distributed by the group, points to Michel Paquette, one of the citizens citizens rocked front telecommunications tour mobilized. Therefore, Among the reactions noted, it is downright “indignation” for many in the neighborhood, adds Frédérique White. In addition, According to the plans available. Nevertheless, the tower occupies an area of ​​180 m2 on a wooded private land adjacent to the Marquis-de-Montcalm park. Consequently, The project is controlled by Bell.

Of all the spaces available in this highly densified sector in the heart of Sherbrooke. why choose this rare little woody preserved between King and Portland? This is in short what these residents wonder. Considering the elevation of the site. the projected citizens rocked front telecommunications tour height of 36 meters, the tower “would visually dominate” the whole sector, according to them.

“It’s excruciating. It’s big. It will be seen by much more than people within a radius of 123 meters. ”evokes Frédérique White, referring to the perimeter defined by Bell to notify the neighborhood.

Only those who live in this restricted area have been directly informed. deplores the citizen group, which accuses the company of lacking transparency in this file by doing only the legal minimum in terms of information. Depending on the process in force. the project is currently at the consultation stage, and citizens can still send comments to Bell until July 12.

“We mobilized because otherwise, we understood that no one would hear about it,” also summarizes Ms. White, deploring the little effort made by the company to publicize the project. For example, the public opinion of citizens rocked front telecommunications tour the project, without photo, was published in a single publication, she says.

Tenants in the sector were not notified either, according to the group. In their door-to-door tour, it is a general ignorance of the project they encountered. “They make the strict minimum to notify as many people as possible,” summarizes Marilyn Desmarais, speaking of the company.

The group thus demands the cessation of current procedures and the establishment of a “real citizen consultation”.

Invited to comment on. Bell replied in writing that she “strictly complies with all regulatory procedures when building new towers”, which includes “public consultations and approvals at different levels, but also a specific requirement to consult all residents living within a radius equal to three times the height of the tower in order to obtain their approval”. The company also indicates to collaborate with citizens and municipalities “throughout this process”.

For many in the vicinity. it is a bit of an opportunity to catch up with another file which has made dissatisfied in the past, adds Mr. Paquette. “The district is also a little scalded with the enlargement of the parking King walks. People were consulted late, ”judges it.

Citizens also question the need for better telecommunications service in the center of Sherbrooke. The company replied that “the addition of this tower in this area is essential to ensure rapid. reliable service to residents, thus responding to growing demand in the region”.

“We end up with this project, and we don’t know what the alternatives studied. But this one, in our opinion, is really not the best ”, shares Jean-Luc Michaud. Rather, the group offers to use an already existing building or an already mineralized area to install the tower.

This is also what the sector advisor, Marc Denault, asks, who would like other avenues to be explored. He even issued his dissent when the file was discussed at the borough a few weeks ago.

“I hope that the civic procedures will bring an opening” from the company. he comments today, which he has not felt so far. The advisor also calls to review the entire marked process of federal standards which supervises the establishment of a telecommunications tower in a municipality. considering the previous ones known in other places before Sherbrooke.

In the case that citizens rocked front telecommunications tour occupies us. it would be after all a notable change “in the panorama of many people” if the project was to materialize, observes Mr. Denault.

A meeting between the citizens and the federal deputy Élisabeth Brière was also scheduled for June 26.