Bermuda Digital Communications (BDC) has received final approval to erect a controversial 40-foot high communications tower with two 12-foot whips on Wilderness Lane in Smith's Parish.

Initial plans for the tower met with fierce resistance from area residents and pressure group Community Against Radioactive Emissions (CARE).

CARE was formed in 1999 after a group of Warwick residents learned that a cellular tower was to be erected in their neighbourhood.

Residents were concerned about the reported ill effects associated with electromagnetic fields generated by the towers, including conditions ranging from sleep disorders and headaches to cancer.

The new tower will be located on Government land bordering Zuill's Park and Town Hill and received approval despite protests by CARE, which claimed Government had promised not to permit any more communications towers.

In an objection letter to the Development and Applications Board (DAB), a CARE representative said: "We were advised by the Ministry of Telecommunications that the policy of the Government was that there would be no new towers and any approval of this application for this new tower would appear to contravene this policy.'' The objection continued: "Public fear and concern is a material planning consideration even if that fear is irrational and not based on evidence.'' And the group explained that the fears were not irrational as much of the known science concerning cellular towers is inconclusive and more was currently being undertaken.

The objection also pointed to research carried out by G.J. Hyland at the University of Warwick in England, who recommended limitations on the placement, erection, and operation of cellular towers.

In February last year, BDC was involved in legal wrangling with West End Properties Ltd. a subsidiary of the Fairmont Southampton Princess Hotel, after their lease was terminated out of concern that a tower on the hotel's grounds posed a health hazard to employees residing nearby.

Under questioning by BDC's lawyer, Narinder Hargun, health specialist and proponent of the dangers of exposure to radio waves, Dr. David Carpenter gave evidence in the Supreme Court that there was "no proof'' that exposure to radio frequency radiation causes cancer.

But Dr. Carpenter also insisted that no research had disproved that exposure to such radiation is unhealthy and he said that while the radiation might not be the cause, it may trigger cancer cell development.

Dr. Carpenter said that he was not in favour of more regulation, but the public needed to be better informed.

There are more than 60 telecommunications towers and antennae on the Island, owned by Government, Bermuda Broadcasting, DeFontes Broadcasting, BTC, Belco, Bermuda Digital Communications Ltd. Telecom (Bermuda) Ltd., Cable and Wireless, Electronic Communications Ltd., TeleBermuda, the US Government, and private individuals.

BDC could not comment yesterday.

BUSINESS BUC