Pleas by residents to stop a cell phone tower being installed near their homes have been heard by planners.

The Development Applications Board (DAB) held a meeting on Wednesday morning to allow concerned neighbours to speak out against the controversial antenna.

More than 230 objections to the proposal have been received by the Department of Planning.

The proposed Digicel tower on South Road, Devonshire, will be a moveable cell site on wheels with a 65-foot antenna capable of extending to 100ft.

Most of the objections raise concerns about health risks and how it will affect the value of their property.

Representatives from the neighbourhood and environmental group BEST were among those at Wednesday’s meeting.

BEST founder Stuart Hayward said yesterday that questions were asked about potential health risks.

“The residents’ objections were listened to. The DAB chair and several members asked questions and the developers responded,” he said. “Our objections haven’t been withdrawn, we’re concerned.”

Two local day care centres said residents and concerned parents had sent a representative to the meeting on their behalf.

Katie Adams, of the School House Nursery on Brighton Road, feared the tower “could be dangerous to the health of children and the public in general”.

“I’m concerned about the safety of my children,” she said.

Myrnette Wolffe, of Blossoming Tots day care on Watlington Road, said more than 60 parents had signed a petition.

“We’re absolutely still objecting, there are long-term effects we don’t want to expose our children to,” she added.

The DAB has yet to reach a decision on whether to allow the tower.

A review by the Department of Health states that the estimated radio frequency emissions would be 130 times less than the maximum permitted exposure limit as set out by the US Federal Communications Commission. These guidelines are used in Bermuda in the absence of local regulations.

“Based on the specifications provided regarding antenna height and power levels, the Department of Health would not object to this application provided Digicel operates and maintains the equipment in compliance with FCC [guidelines],” the report states.

The Department considered the concerns of objectors, “specifically as the relate to potential ‘non-thermal’ health effects”, but said studies had not presented convincing evidence that cell towers and phones caused adverse health effects.

The notion of keeping the tower a “safe” distance from homes was addressed, with the Department ruling that because research had shown that radiation levels were caused by numerous factors — such as obstacles like trees and the direction of transmission — distance “would not be reliable alternative to using limits to assess the degree of hazard at a particular location”.

Digicel said the tower was needed to provide the neighbourhood with better cellular coverage and was not a health hazard.

“The tower in question is necessary to remedy weak phone reception in the area,” said Digicel Bermuda chief executive Alistair Beak. “Although Digicel had reviewed other alternatives, such as co-location on nearby towers, none of these options satisfy the objective to improve coverage.

“The Department of Health, as part of the planning application process, had no objections to the planned site after conducting a full review.

“Although health concerns were repeatedly raised, the site will operate at levels 130 times lower than US Federal Communications Commission guidelines. Additionally, the location of the tower itself is well hidden, which will minimise the visual impact on the surrounding area.

“Digicel believes a fair hearing was held with the proposed installation being recommended by the Department of Planning and awaits the decision of the Development Applications Board.”

The Department of Planning declined to comment.