This grumbling over a huge telecoms mast to improve mobile-phone coverage on Playa Granada could be a clear case of nimbyism. Read on!

For decades the residents along this beach area of Motril have been demanding that something be done about the lack of, or just plain poor, coverage but now that a 40-metre-high mast is being erected, many local residents are complaining about where it is going.

Those complaining come from nearby urbanizaciones; Los Moriscos II and Claro de Luna. They are demanding that the Town Hall finds a new location for it. They have submitted written requests with meetings between the Town Hall and neighbourhood associations.

Why? Because they consider that the microwaves emitted by the mast will be prejudicial to their health: “We understand the importance of this telecommunications infrastructure but we are worried by the potential impact that it will have on our health,” explained the Chairman of the Urbanización Claro de Luna, neighbours association, Paco Ruiz.

He went on to point out that there are numerous studies carried out that find possible health risks associated with exposure to electromagnetic radiation from mobile-phone masts. For this reason, he says, they request that an exhaustive evaluation concerning possible effects be made before a final decision is taken. The urbanizacion’s residents are also worried that the proximity of the infrastructure to their homes could negatively effect the value of their properties… Aha! They also consider that its visual impact spoils the views.

However, the Asociación de Vecinos de Playa Granada, who were also at the meeting, consider that the majority of residents in the area are waiting with bated breath for the arrival of this coverage improvement, like rain to a man dying from thirst. In other words, they want it put up and working yesterday.

Margarita Valdivia, Chairwoman of the neighbour associations says that complaints have been few and regrets that they are being made outside the period for lodging objections and now with the construction work already underway. She also said that the mast would be decorated in such a way as to lessen its visual impact.

In fact, it was back in July 2022 that the Town Hall made its specifications known (height, etc) and that the structure would bear a large billboard stating “Welcome to Playa Granada.” The Town Hall says that all the necessary administrative steps were duly taken at the time and points out that the structure is at a sufficient distance from homes not to be a health concern.

(News/Noticias: Motril, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)