'Devastating' roll-out of dozens of mobile masts sparks horrified plea for urgent rethink
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
HORRIFIED Wester Ross communities, world-famous heritage and nature trusts, and leading outdoor advocates have united to call for an end to an ill-thought out mobile masts policy which risks ruining the region's most beautiful landscapes.
Seven Wester Ross community councils and associations, and a wide range of major organisations like the National Trust for Scotland and Mountaineering Scotland, have joined forces to pen a joint-letter to the UK government calling for an urgent rethink of a key telecoms policy before irreversible damage is done.
The UK government is aiming to improve 4G coverage across the British Isles and has set its sights on a goal of 95 per cent coverage.
But deeply worried residents in Wester Ross have warned that proposals for the Shared Rural Network for 95 per cent geographical coverage, instead of 95 per cent by population, will result in a sea of masts being erected in wilderness glens nowhere near any residents.
- Related: Withdrawal of Torridon mobile phone mast plan welcomed by major charity
- More news
- Sign up to our newsletter
As well as the masts themselves having a negative impact on these wild settings they argue that the associated infrastructure required to install and maintain them – such as many miles of new tracks, and diesel generators – will prove particularly devastating to the physical environment and wildlife alike.
Writing to Julia Lopez, the UK minister for science, innovation and technology, the various groups said: "Recent proposals from Shared Rural Network for a massive expansion of telecommunications masts across the Highlands need to be seriously re-examined. We wholeheartedly support the stated aim of improving broadband for communities and businesses in rural areas – however, what is proposed will not deliver this."
"As currently envisaged, the masts will despoil some of our most remote and beautiful landscapes and cause significant environmental damage. This in turn will harm the economy which, as the Highland Council’s own planning framework emphasises, relies on our reputation as a heritage tourism destination and as a place where the outstanding environment and natural heritage is celebrated and valued assets are safeguarded.
"Rather than pushing for 95 per cent 4G coverage by population (which would make sense) the government is going for 95 per cent geographical coverage, and for the elimination of ‘not-spots’ (areas of no connectivity) or partial ‘not-spots’ (where only one operator is present). But the reason we have these not-spots is that the North West Highlands has hundreds of square miles of complete wilderness. Proposals to site masts in remote glens bounded by high mountains will offer little or no improvement in connectivity to any of our local communities.
"Wester Ross is designated as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, and within this alone there have been over 30 pre-planning notifications by Virgin Media O2 to put telecoms masts in some of our most stunning wilderness areas. While the benefits will be minimal if any, the damage will be enormous.
"The construction process will turn walkers’ footpaths into ugly tracks; the masts and the infrastructure needed for them to function, including proposed diesel generators, will ruin some the Highland’s most spectacular views; and rare plants and wildlife, including protected species, will in many places be endangered."
They also argued that claims he masts will provide emergency coverage for walkers in wild places are also flawed – as "the technology will be obsolete very soon", and highlighted that new devices like iPhones will automatically divert to satellite if no mobile signal can be found.
They have called for three "key changes" to the current policy.
- A "proper dialogue with communities" before these masts are instigated, rather than "wasting time and taxpayers’ money fighting objections to planning applications." As part of this, they argue mobile operators should be clear what each mast is for, who it will benefit and how it fits with any other submissions for the area. Masts should be shared wherever possible.
- A "thorough cost benefit analysis" must be undertaken for every mast proposed, including assessment of the damage to the environment and tourism.
- Timelines for completion of the Shared Rural Network "must be extended and mobile operators must commission and publish landscape impact assessments" to ensure proper public oversight.
They concluded: "We are not against better connectivity as it enables people to live and work here, but there needs to be a sensible process to identify and fill any gaps - not an arbitrary set of targets that make no sense in a remote rural area, that will ruin some superb landscapes, and that will come at great expense to the taxpayer."
The letter's signatories include the following Wester Ross community councils: Torridon and Kinlochewe; Gairloch; Lochbroom; Lochcarron; Shieldaig; and Wester Loch Ewe. The Torridon District Community Association is also a signatory.
Other groups and organisations to sign it include the National Trust for Scotland, Ramblers Scotland, John Muir Trust, Mountaineering Scotland, the Munro Society, the Scottish Wild Land Group, the Celtman Triathlon, the Scottish Rainforest Education Centre, and the Community Out West Trust.
Notable individuals such as Cameron McNeish, Rob Macfarlane and Stephen Venables have also signed.
And the letter has been copied to many Highland politicians.
Responding to the letter authors' points and concerns, a spokesperson for the UK’s Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology, said: "The UK government has a responsibility to ensure all parts of the country are able to benefit from the opportunities provided by digital connectivity. The Shared Rural Network has geographic targets to address this, focusing on the most rural parts of the country.
“Local planning authorities are responsible for approving applications which form part of this programme. The mobile network operators continue to work closely with them and local communities to ensure new masts go through the proper planning process and are considerate of areas of natural beauty.”
