West Kelowna cell phone tower proposal a no go

WEST KELOWNA–A proposal for a cell phone tower to be build on a West Kelowna winery has been called off.

Nirmal Gidda, the owner of Mount Boucherie Estate Winery, says when he was approached by Rogers Communications about building a cell tower on his property, he thought it would be a good idea.

“I am a Rogers customer, and I have bad cell reception, even here at the winery, we went in to it with Rogers, it was basically to help the community,” Gidda explains.

He says he never expected outrage from his neighbors, who staged protests, put up posters and launched a petition.

The neighbors claim they have several reasons for protesting the proposal. They say weren’t contacted about the idea, believe it would obstruct their views and are worried about possible health effects from radio frequency radiation.

Ivona Shchurek spearheaded the protests.  She says her neighborhood is not the place for a cell phone tower.

“I love the cell.  I have a cell of my own,” Shchurek said, “but why in a residential area?”

Gidda says the public outcry has convinced him to pull the plug on talks with Rogers, even before the public consultation process deadline has passed.

“I’ve been part of this community since ’61.  I’ve raised my kids here, hopefully my grandkids will grow here, so we are community, family first and foremost”

Gidda says what happens next is out of his hands.

“The cell tower is going to go up.  I don’t know where it’s going up, but not on our property.”