Dozens of eyesore 4G masts in Highland beauty spots dropped amid wider U-turn by Shared Rural Networks project
Ecstatic groups fighting highly controversial plans for a swathe of telecommunications masts in some of the Highlands’ most beautiful unspoilt landscapes are declaring victory after a sudden policy u-turn.
The Shared Rural Network (SRN) project - a collaboration between government and mobile network operators EE, O2, Three and Vodafone - is seeking to achieve 95 per cent 4G mobile phone coverage across the whole of the UK.
The scheme aims to tackle the many phone and internet blackspots in the country - so called Partial or Total Not Spot Areas - through the roll-out of new shared 4G masts that will plug existing gaps in coverage.
Although the SRN’s stated goal - of boosting digital connectivity in areas with slow or non-existent coverage - has many supporters in rural communities, those same communities have voiced criticism about what they fear is a ‘one-size fits all’ approach to plugging digital ‘not spots’.
Countryside campaigners, rural communities, landowners and outdoors charities have been united in pushing back at what they see as an “arbitrary” focus on reaching a set 95% coverage target which has resulted in masts being proposed even in wilderness, or near wilderness areas, where next to no-one lives or wanders.
They argue this pursuit of a set coverage target even in areas where masts are “not needed” will blight unspoilt beauty spots with little gain.
And after months of campaigning they have voiced their delight after SRN announced that the number of new 4G masts it plans to install in Scotland’s remote areas is being scaled back from 258 to 44.
The news comes just days after the Shared Rural Network announced changes to its roll-out plans which it said would see it shift focus to boosting connectivity and plugging gaps in those areas that more heavily used by outdoor walkers and cyclists as well as tourist hotspots.
And it came in the same week that around 35 separate mast applications lodged with Highland Council were all suddenly withdrawn. There was no immediate word as to whether the moves were linked, but the timing, and SRN’s own blog entry announcing that some proposed masts have been “descoped”, will not have gone unnoticed among campaigners.
Mast applications lodged with Highland Council that were suddenly pulled this week include locations dotted all across the region - including remote locations in or near the likes of Lairg, Glencoe, Glenfinnan, Kylerhea, Glen Affirc, Corrour, Torridon, Fort William, Cannich, Tomich, Invergarry, Glenshiel, Aviemore, Dalwhinnie, Kinlochleven, Glen Nevis, Morvich, and more.
Anna Gardiner, Senior Policy Adviser (Business and Property), at Scottish Land & Estates, welcomed the news and said the previous plans did not benefit communities still without any mobile network access at all.
She said: “We are delighted that the government has listened to our concerns and has scaled back the number of masts to be built in areas where they simply were not needed. This protects some of our most spectacular and beautiful landscapes and will alleviate pressure on planning authorities in rural areas.
“The original plan was totally flawed as it was based on covering an arbitrary percentage of the UK’s geography, but in fact it did not benefit many of the rural communities and businesses which are currently in Total Not Spot Areas – where there is no 4G coverage from any provider.
“These areas are still crying out for a mobile network and in many cases community councils have been ignored. We would urge the UK government to redirect the considerable sum of money that has been saved, in order to prioritise these communities.”
Thomas Widrow, head of campaigns for the John Muir Trust, said: “This is great news for the amazing landscapes and biodiversity of Scotland. Some of the proposed locations for a mast were completely inappropriate. We need to ensure there is connectivity where people live and work, not in our most fragile and remote wild places.”
And Catriona Davies, from Mountaineering Scotland, commented: “Tens of thousands of people enjoy hillwalking, climbing and ski touring in Scotland and care passionately about the unique character of the hills and mountains they spend so much time in. The wild qualities of these landscapes should be preserved for the benefit of nature and people. We will continue to closely monitor the remaining planning proposals to ensure that they meet the needs of local communities, whilst protecting the mountain environment.”
Announcing its shift in focus in an update posted at the end of June, SRN said it had now reached its 95% target and that the programme “has also met its road and premises targets which were due in January 2027”.
The continued: “We have spent time engaging with local communities and interest groups, especially in Scotland, to understand how best to maximise the benefits of future mobile upgrades.
“As a result of these important conversations, the Government and the operators have agreed to prioritise new mobile infrastructure for areas where it will have the biggest positive impact, primarily where people live, work, or travel, including walking and hiking routes.
“This includes parts of the West Highland Way and Munros Ben Lawers and Ben Vorlich where there is no 4G signal at all, yet walkers and tourists regularly need it – especially in emergency situations.
“Under the revised plans, while fewer new masts are planned across rural Scotland, those that are built will provide new mobile coverage to areas such as Glen Coe, the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, Wester Ross, and several islands including the Isle of Mull, South Uist and Skye.”
They added that they remain “committed to working closely with rural communities” as the project progresses.
