Plans to erect a mobile Digicel tower in Devonshire has been granted final approval, despite a deluge of objections from members of the public.

The application, which proposed the erection of a movable “cell site on wheels” including an antenna capable of extending to 100 feet at 49 South Road, Devonshire, received around 230 objections, with most of the objections raising concerns about health risks and how it will affect the value of their property. Among the objectors were area residents, nearby day care centres and the Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce.

Digicel said it had reviewed other alternatives, such as co-location on nearby towers, but none of these options would satisfy the objective to improve coverage

And 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.

As a result of the objectors, the Development Application’s Board organised a public meeting, during which the technical officer presented the application details to the Board at a public hearing in order to obtain feedback from the objectors, applicant and the Director of Environmental Health.

The minutes of the board’s meeting on August 13 stated: “Following the presentation by all parties, the board deliberated on the facts in order to reach a decision. The board conferred on the information presented specifically by the Director of Environmental Health as well as the information presented by Dr [Deborah] Daly, an objector.

“The Board further considered the presentation from two other objectors, BEST and Nicole Renaud. Comments from the applicant, Digicel, were also considered by the board.”

According to the minutes, the board considered the relevant sections of the Bermuda Plan 2008, Planning Statement and their own mandate, noting that there were no parameters for what would be considered “over-intensification. They suggested that a guidance note be established for future applications, providing a clear guideline for the maximum number of towers in a specific area. Consideration was also given to placing a time limit on the proposal and to require the decommissioning of the nearby existing Digicel antennae, located near Collectors Hill.

“Given the lack of knowledge regarding the radiation emitted from cellular towers in Bermuda, the board were of the opinion that reliance must be placed on the information provided by the experts in the field and corresponding guidelines from other jurisdictions on established safety standards,” the minutes said.

“However, it was noted that it may be possible for cellular tower operators to increase the frequency and antennae installations without obtaining permission from the Department.

“Therefore, it was recommended that a condition requiring any alterations to frequency must have the express consent of the board and that an advice note should be added recommending that the level of local radio frequency information gathering and monitoring should be improved in the interest of public safety.”

The board resolved to grant final planning approval for the tower, but noted that any further antennae proposed for the tower would be have to be the subject of a separate planning application, and that any change in the location of the tower would require the consent of the board.