Wild landscapes should be protected from a rollout of digital masts, say Scottish conservation charities.
The Shared Rural Network (SRN) aims to deliver reliable 4G mobile broadband to 95 per cent of the UK, while tackling locations dubbed “Total Not Spots”.
Multiple planning applications are being made to place masts and telecommunications infrastructure in some of Scotland’s most scenic locations, including Torridon and the Mar Lodge Estate National Nature Reserve.
Now organisations are writing to the UK Government asking it to review its rollout of the SRN to prevent causing “unnecessary damage”.
“Applications for telecom masts are flooding into local planning authorities across Scotland with little justification as to their specific siting and design,” said a coalition of the John Muir Trust, Mountaineering Scotland, and the Knoydart Foundation.
“Many of the applications lack meaningful knowledge of the sites they are proposed on with blatant disregard for whether communities will actually benefit.
“The rushed approach is being driven by a geographical target, set by the UK Government, to bring 4G mobile network coverage to 95 per cent of the UK by end of 2025.”
Davie Black, Access and Conservation Officer for Mountaineering Scotland said: “The plan must be paused so we can all sit around the table and get this right. We want to ensure digital connectivity is achieved while protecting Scotland’s last wild landscapes.”
The Knoydart Foundation strongly opposes any new telecoms mast on the Knoydart peninsula, stating: “The Knoydart Foundation, as a representative of the community on Knoydart, respects the outcome of a recent community consultation on proposals to erect further telecoms masts across the Knoydart Peninsula.
“The Knoydart Foundation will not support or facilitate in any way future development of these proposals. On community owned land we are actively opposing such works as have been proposed.”
The National Trust for Scotland is also calling for a pause, and a “joined-up approach to protect Scotland’s landscapes”.
The charity said the masts “are often planned for places completely unsuited to development and, if approved, would have a detrimental impact on their ecology, stunning landscape character and quality, views and the tranquillity and unspoilt nature of these special places.
“The diesel driven generators that provide power to the masts will provide a constant background noise in these tranquil places and access tracks will scar the landscape.”
An application has been made to place a mast in the Coire Mhic Nobuil, Torridon in the heart of the Torridon National Scenic Area. In an objection made to Highland Council, the trust said that it would significantly impact on the character of the landscape and undermine people’s experience and enjoyment of it.
Bob Brown is the National Trust for Scotland’s Upland Path Manager. Since 1999, Bob Brown has been working as part of a 130-strong team to restore a 14km path that stretches across the majestic mountain paradise of Torridon.
Bob said: “This landscape, loved by many, will be blighted by such a structure. It will be visible during the entire traverse of the Coire Mhic Nobuil path, and at many other points.”
Stuart Brooks, the trust’s director of conservation and policy, said: “We are calling for urgent discussions to take place to ensure that national targets and the overall approach is reviewed, and proposals within Scotland’s highly sensitive and internationally valued landscapes are stopped.”
A Department for Science, Innovation and Technology spokesperson said: “Reliable connectivity is fundamental to making sure all the UK can access the growth and opportunity offered by digital infrastructure, even in the most rural areas.
“Mobile networks operators continue to work closely with local communities and planning authorities to ensure new masts go through the proper planning process and are considerate to areas of natural beauty.
“Community engagement is ongoing across Scotland so any views are heard prior to planning applications being lodged, and publicly funded masts will be shared by all four mobile network operators to minimise the impact on the environment, with the programme utilising existing infrastructure wherever possible.”