Four 5G antennas for 3,000 inhabitants. In Allouagne, a small village near Béthune (Pas-de-Calais), such equipment seems disproportionate to residents. In a few months, their municipality will already be equipped with three new 5G antennas, about thirty meters high. These projects seem all the more incomprehensible to them as an already existing antenna, about fifteen meters high and operated by the operator SFR, was recently equipped with 5G.

“Aesthetically, it will not be the best”

Several residents, the mayor and members of the municipal council have therefore decided to mobilize in early November 2021 to prevent the construction of the three new relay antennas, which will be used by several operators. There are a few weeks left before the start of the work, so they want to take advantage of this delay to prevent the antennas from seeing the light of day. The mayor notably sent appeals to the prefecture of Pas-de-Calais and to the community of municipalities.

The three new antennas, built at the foot of the houses, must disfigure the surrounding countryside, claiming the locals. From his terrace, Serge Vittu has a breathtaking view of the forest, just opposite, which belongs to the municipality of Lapugnoy. It is in the middle of these trees that a 32-meter-high 5G antenna must be built, operated by the operator Free. Serge deplores it: “This antenna will double the height of the poplars, 32 meters, that can be seen from a long way, aesthetically, it will not be the best!”

And that’s not all, 800 meters behind, another 5G antenna operated by TDF is in the works, knowing that between the two, there is already one, about fifteen meters: “But this one, it fits quite well into the landscape and in the row of poplars, you can barely make it out.”

Prove the negative visual impact for the municipality

Why build other branches knowing that there is already one and that there are only 3,000 inhabitants in Allouagne, wonders Hervé Lomon, one of the members of the municipal council: “I am not sure that the needs of the inhabitants here correlate with the set of antennas that are going to be installed.”

At last, a fourth antenna, also operated by Free, must be installed at the southern entrance to the village. On this, the mayor of Allouagne André Hennebelle can act. The only recourse he has is not to have a negative visual impact for his municipality: “At the entrance to the city, we are setting up this mess! It is not admissible, we were only offered this project, of this dimension, nothing else, we cannot accept it. ! “

And André Hennebelle also recalls that these branches are not always well received. Many of his fellow citizens fear consequences for their health, then it is necessary, he concludes, that the operators declare themselves more open to questions from the population and more transparent.

In addition, it should be remembered that the mayor cannot invoke the “precautionary principle” to interrupt projects.

Residents have launched a petition to be signed in town hall.