FEARS are being voiced in Hay-on-Wye that putting a mobile phone mast opposite the proposed site of the town’s new school puts children at risk.

Brecon Beacons National Park Authority granted O2 planning permission to put a 12.5 metre tall mobile phone mast on land off Forest Road back in March.

When Hay Town Council objected to the plans in January 2011 and again in January 2012, it said: "The case for stating that low level radiation is not harmful has not been proven."

And in the past week posters have appeared around town claiming that radiation from the mast – which will be built behind the Greenfield Industrial Estate, near to the site on which Powys County Council wants to build Hay’s new primary – could put local people at risk.

Commenting on the concerns, a spokesman for Brecon Beacons National Park Authority (BBNPA) said: “We understand that residents are concerned about the O2 mast granted planning permission by the BBNPA planning, access and rights of way committee on March 13 this year.

“However, the advice we’re given from Government is that ‘local planning authorities should not seek to replicate through the planning system controls under the health and safety regime. Enforcement of health and safety legislation in this area is a matter for the Health and Safety Executive.’

“This is advice our planning officers are expected to follow.

“The application contained a declaration that the proposed mast would be in compliance with the requirements of the international guidelines set on radio frequency exposure.

“BBNPA’s planning committee can only make decisions based on an application’s planning merits.”