An appeal to the owners of the Southampton Princess hotel could hold the key for residents desperate to halt a cellular tower in their neighbourhood.

The Warwick-based Community Against Radiation Emissions believe Canadian Pacific could aid their fight to stop Bermuda Digital Communications erecting their controversial antennae.

CARE are concerned over possible health risks associated with the radiation waves emitted from the aerial -- and to force home the message they have threatened to organise a boycott of the firm.

They want BDC to consider moving to another location or to provide a US-backed guarantee that their health will not be harmed.

But in the meantime they are hopeful that Canadian Pacific -- who own the Faraway site where the aerial is to be sited -- may come to their rescue to bring an amicable solution to the situation.

Southampton Princess staff cottages are located at the site and CARE are optimistic that an appeal to the renowned environmentally conscious Canadian company will reap rewards.

Steve Thomson of CARE said he was sure that the company would not want to put its employees at any risk, if one existed.

Princess may hold key for residents "I don't really think they want it there. They pride themselves on being environmentally-friendly...what would you do if your staff said they didn't want it and organised a petition against it?'' He said the tower, on which construction has temporarily ceased, must be shown clearly not to have any present or future potential health risks to either Southampton Princess employees, themselves, their children, or neighbours.

"This can be done by the US Environmental Protection Agency writing a letter guaranteeing our safety if living in close proximity.'' He added that anything less than that were just opinions and not accepted fact -- demanding facts "prior to risking the health of our families''.

Warwick East MP Dale Butler attended a meeting of concerned residents last week and has passed on their worries to Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb.

But he said, as a backbencher, he was bound by a statement made by Ms Webb which said that the Government was satisfied that the tower would not pose a health risk to any member of the public.

"I don't make policy but I have tried to act as a conduit to the Government,'' he said.

"My representations were to Renee Webb, to say "here is all the evidence, and here are the concerns of the residents'', which I did.

"All I can say is that I will continue to pass on all of their concerns to the best of my ability.'' CARE are concerned over a possible link between electromagnetic field radiation. They cite EPA research which recommends that EMF be classified as a probable human carcinogens.

But other data contradicts their claims and BDC say there is no evidence which proves the aerials are a threat to human health.

BDC state that the Warwick site is vital to their coverage of the Island and remind protesters that all the relevant permissions and licences have been obtained.

In addition, BDC chief operating officer Michael Leverock said neither his company or any of its employees would build or be responsible for a facility that would harm any member of the community.

He said they were surprised and offended by some of the claims being made by CARE.

Equipment for the Warwick antennae is now in Bermuda, and although work is on hold at the site, the tower is to go ahead as planned.

CARE have vowed that the battle is not over and in addition to canvassing Canadian Pacific, say they are exploring legal avenues open to them.