Knoydart pushback against masts
Residents of Knoydart have pushed back against a government project to build 4G masts in the area, writes Jamie Wills.
The £1 billion Shared Rural Network, which aims to increase UK mobile coverage to 95 per cent by 2025, had identified three potential sites on community-owned land on the peninsula. However, a survey of local residents, which number around 130, received 104 responses, with unanimous opposition to the plans. A declaration of opposition was also signed by 104 members of the community.
The Knoydart Foundation, a community group that manages the majority of the land and community projects on the peninsula, released a position statement after the survey, which said: “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 Shared Rural Network is funded by the government and the country’s four largest network providers. Property consultant Gately Hamer was asked to assist an on-theground evaluation of the potential Knoydart sites in March.
Following the survey visit, locals learned that 11 locations were being considered and at least three sites on community-owned land were likely to be pursued for mast installations.
The sites were in isolated areas except for a potential hub close to the village of Inverie. Grant Holroyd, forester for the Knoydart Forest Trust, said: “There’s no justification for mobile coverage in the proposed areas where people don’t live. These structures will require regular maintenance. For example, if they have diesel generators they will need to be refuelled every 500 hours and these masts will need to be maintained by helicopter which is an outrageous source of carbon emissions.”
Stephanie Harris, business development manager at the community-owned pub The Old Forge, added: “I have been involved in many community engagement activities over the years, and the level of response we received for this consultation was the highest and most unified I have seen from our community. Our declaration summarises all the reasons we think this project is ludicrous, but for me there is the overarching issue of this being imposed on us and we’re just supposed to accept it.
“Moving forward, constructive we welcome dialogue
‘...the level of response we received for this consultation was the highest and most unified I have seen from our community.’
with those implementing SRN, and will do what we need to to make sure that our voices are heard. Our community has stated very clearly that we do not want or need more masts, and that position must be respected.”
The Knoydart Foundation has written to representatives in the Scottish and UK Governments to inform them of the local position.
A 4G mast providing EE coverage recently went live on the Knoydart peninsula, installed as part of the Scottish 4G Infill (S4GI) programme that aims to remove “notspots” from Scotland’s mobile network.