MP hopes mobile deal will bring rural boost
where circumstances dictate, opt for the most appropriate method to get that message across.”
Labour councillor for Stirling East Chris Kane echoed Councillor Tweed’s concerns and questioned why there weren’t any statistics provided on how many cyclists police stopped.
Stirling’s MP is hopeful a deal struck between the UK Government and the four mobile network providers will boost broadband coverage in the rural parts of his constituency.
The £1 billion agreement to build a ‘shared rural network’ was announced on Friday by Digital Secretary Nicky Morgan and the mobile operators. Ministers are set to strike a deal with providers EE, O2, Three and Vodafone which aims to extend 4G coverage to 95 per cent of the UK landmass by 2025.
The Westminster Government said in a statement the benefits of the initiative would be felt across all four nations of the UK with the greatest coverage improvements in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Following the meeting, Councillor Kane added: “To my mind there is a small proportion of both drivers and cyclists who cause the bulk of the problems but we hear about enforcement on inconsiderate drivers much more than enforcement on inconsiderate cyclists.
Ms Morgan has backed a £530 million proposal from the UK’s mobile network operators for a shared rural network with the potential for it to be matched by £500 million investment from Government.
It would see the four mobile operators investing in a network of new and existing phone masts they would all share. Consumers will be able to rely on their own provider’s network to use their mobile phones wherever they are.
It is hoped the scheme will eliminate virtually all areas where there is currently coverage by some but not all four of the network providers – known as ‘partial not-spots’.
Many parts of the rural Stirling area have been blighted by poor broadband and mobile reception and efforts
“My challenge to Police Scotland is that, given our roads are used by multiple users, we should ensure safety campaigns reflect this.”
•To comment on this story: email john.rowbotham@trinitymirror.com, or write to the Observer at 34 Upper Craigs, Stirling, FK82DW. and underway by both Stirling Council, communities themselves and the Scottish Government to improve coverage
Stirling MP Stephen Kerr said: “This is a game changing initiative and will make a huge difference to businesses and residents in rural areas across the UK. It will bring 4G coverage to many parts of rural Stirling where currently there is little or no signal at all. Another important aspect is that safety for people either living, working or visiting our rural areas will be greatly improved with access to good mobile signals in many remote locations. The recent devastating landslip at Loch Katrine demonstrates only too well the need for good communication capacity in our very rural but very popular areas.”