THE decision to site an Esat Digifone mast in a clock tower at the Roselawn Shopping Centre in Dublin's Blanchardstown has alarmed locals. In December last year, Fingal County Council refused planning permission for the mast, which will be located in the middle of a housing estate. An Bord Pleannla later overturned the decision, allowing the mast.

The mast which is in the service yard of the shopping centre, is in front of a national primary school and close to a community health centre, say locals. Senator Marian McGennis (FF) tabled a Section Four motion at Fingal County Council, calling on officials to examine the possibility of taking High Court judicial review proceedings over the board's decision.

The county manager, Mr Davy Byrne, has agreed to seek the law agent's advice on whether a judicial review could be undertaken.

Senator McGennis has suggested to local people that they consider a boycott of Dublin radio station 98 FM which is owned, indirectly, by Esat Digifone shareholder, Communicorp. She has also suggested extending the boycott to firms which advertise on it.

Rejecting an appeal from local representatives to site the mast elsewhere, Esat Digifone said, "while we understand that the residents are concerned, it is not practical for us to threaten the viability of our own network by acting on these baseless fears however genuine the sentiment. We are not in a position to withdraw or appeal, as the site is very important to our network and is interdependent with other sites".

Concern has been voiced about the siting of these controversial masts, which opponents say pose "silent health risks" from the non ionising radiation they give off. One scientist, Prof Royds, is quoted by locals in support of their case that masts should not be located in built up areas, pending further research. Esat Digifone insists there is no risk.

The visual impact of the mast on the local horizon was an issue which was raised regarding the Blanchardstown mast. Esat originally intended to build a "straightforward mast" on the roof of the Roselawn shopping centre.

We realised that the local residents would have a problem with the visual impact and, therefore, went to some trouble to have it re-designed as a clock tower. This rendered the structure unrecognisable as communications antennae," said a spokesperson for Esat Digifone.