Frigiliana, Torrox, Velez-Malaga and Rincon de la Victoria residents are concerned about mobile phone masts

FRIGILIANA, Torrox, Velez-Malaga and Rincon de la Victoria residents are up in arms about mobile phone masts in residential areas.

There have been continued complaints from residents in the four localities, the most recent involving more than 100 people from the Don Miguel urbanisation in La Cala del Moral.

They were demanding the removal of a mast from the roof of a resident who is also president of the property owners’ community.  It appeared to be a chimney stack but a resident who works for Telefonica realised it was a camouflaged mast and raised the alarm.

A petition for its removal was handed in at Rincon town where Urban Planning councillor Antonio Manuel Rando explained that he had been trying to get it removed ever since taking over the department.

Warnings had been issued, and a request made to Endesa to cut off the mast’s electricity supply, said the councillor, who regretted that it was taking so long “and even longer now we are in August.”

Local complaints are being examined by Andalucia’s ombudsman and consumer groups are also involved.  “Until the masts are proved to be harmless priority has to be given to safety,” said a FACUA spokesman.