A CONTROVERSIAL police phone mast could be put on top of County Hall in Dorchester.

The 15-metre communications mast, which currently sits on the roof of the town's Weymouth Avenue police station, will move to the county council buildings - where 800 people work - if mast operator O2 gets its way.

The information came to light after the Dorset Echo revealed that Dorset County Council had commissioned a £5,000 study into the effects of the police station's Airwave mast on staff at their Pullman Court site.

The study, which has been paid for by the mast's operators, was ordered after highways department staff complained that they were being made ill by the mast, which is just 10 metres away from their second-storey window.

O2 Airwave, the company in charge of the new generation of police communications equipment - known as Tetra - applied to West Dorset District Council for permission to keep the mast on the police station until their favoured site became available.

It has since emerged that O2 wants to put the mast on top of County Hall and has written to council bosses asking for permission.

Council chiefs say if their study finds no ill effects on staff and does not interfere with existing equipment they will give it the go-ahead.

County council business support manager Steve Cheeseman confirmed that O2 had asked for permission to site the mast on top of County Hall.

He said: "What we have said to them is that we want to commission a report into what that would mean for us. They have agreed to pay for that.

"As part of the report we've asked the National Radiological Protection Board to look at the possibility of putting the mast on County Hall where we have a number of other pieces of equipment."

Mr Cheeseman said the report would also look at other sites in Dorchester that could be suitable for the mast.

He said the outcome of the report was 'critical' for the council, as it would form the basis of any decision and could have financial implications for the council.

"We would charge O2 for using the site, but that's not the crucial part of it. The mast is being used by the emergency services, who are looking for the best means possible."

The mast, which was installed about eight months ago, is one of 56 around the county used by police and other emergency services for radio communications.

In August last year it was blamed for knocking out television reception in the roads around Dorchester police station.