Please help us fight this!
The telecommunications company EE wish to build a mobile phone mast in Glen Ure.
The landowners do not have the right to stop the mast from being built and are strongly against the proposed development.
Glen Ure is a small, but special Glen running East/West between Beinn Fhionnlaidh to the North and Beinn Sgulaird to the South.
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This mast is to be built under the SRN (Shared Rural Network) project, which aims to get 4G signal to 95% of the UK landmass – not 95% of the population.
Many of the stated aims of the SRN are commendable – improved social benefits, access to emergency services and increased productivity in rural areas.
However, there are down sides. The roll out of the masts necessary to provide this additional coverage should still be subject to scrutiny, especially in remote rural areas.
It is unacceptable for planning permission to be granted for 4G masts with associated infrastructure and access requirements in areas that are protected under international and national law without careful examination.
The wilderness, environment and wildlife are more important than phone signal.
Business, along with central government should not be allowed to circumvent legislation designed to protect such areas.
Many masts are planned in the Highlands and other remote areas. Unfortunately, most people are unaware that this is happening and are therefore unable to make their opinions known.
You can help to protect this very special area by objecting to the planning application by clicking here
Or search the Argyll & Bute website for Planning reference 24/02131/PP
Please see some of the reasons below which could be used to object, though please note that any objection made to Argyll & Bute Council must be written in your own words.
- A stunning area that would be visually spoilt.
- Very close to Golden Eagle Nests.
- Is not supported by local residents.
- Is of no benefit to business or residents.
- Not just a mast- there is a large footprint on the ground with generators, cabinets a compound, parking etc.
- Will require an electricity supply, maintenance visits and refuelling of diesel generator- all creating disturbance to wildlife, especially Golden Eagles.
- Protected sites legislation and processes should be applied correctly- the precautionary principle applies.
- Is not compatible with National Planning Framework 4.
- The implementation of a UK government policy could have huge impact on remote areas and deserves scrutiny at a local level.
- This is being paid for by the taxpayer, and its cost should be justified.
- Infrastructure should be in the right places, for the right reasons.
- Is in a WLA- this must be taken into account
- This is not compatible with Scotland’s Biodiversity Strategy.
Stuart Younie, CEO of Mountaineering Scotland:
“The SRN programme is about bringing mobile broadband to rural communities, which is a good thing; however where it starts to make less sense is the 95% geographical target and proposals to locate new masts in some of our most remote, wild and scenic areas”
Sarah-Jane Laing, chief executive of Scottish Land & Estates:
“The Shared Rural Network programme has been vital in improving mobile connectivity for many communities and businesses across Scotland but it risks undermining that achievement by placing expensive masts in locations where there is no demand for them and where the infrastructure will be a blot on the landscape – potentially irreparably damaging these special, often untouched, places.
“We are urging the government to undertake a review of the TNS programme and take a pragmatic approach rather than simply pushing forward in order to achieve ill-devised targets.”
Thomas Widrow, head of campaigns for the John Muir Trust:
“Decisions taken in Westminster are impacting beautiful and incredibly important wild places hundreds of miles away. As a charity whose purpose is to protect wild places, we are alarmed that damage will be inflicted on landscapes and wildlife with no evident public or environmental benefits.
“Rural communities and outdoor enthusiasts alongside environmental organisations are speaking with one voice – we need connectivity where we live and work, not in our most fragile and remote wild places.
“The new UK government needs to listen to this unprecedented alliance of voices and pause and review the TNS programme. Wild places, the biodiversity they shelter and the people they benefit deserve nothing less.”
Duncan Orr-Ewing, Head of Species and Land Management at RSPB Scotland:
“Whilst initially well-intentioned, the SRN mast roll out has subsequently raised significant concerns, with development proposals coming forward that we believe will impact some of our most threatened species and habitats, and in places where we believe that the case for these mast developments is weak.
“We stand together with landowners, communities and other conservation eNGOs in calling on the UK Government to review the current programme, and to listen to the genuine and deepfelt views of the various stakeholders in Scotland.”
Link to article Conservation & rural bodies unite to call for urgent review of mobile network rollout scheme:
Glen Etive and Glen Fyne SPA (Special Protection Area)
Glen Ure is protected by European level legislation.
The SPA’s qualifying feature is the Golden Eagle, the UK’s second largest bird of prey.
Disturbance is the biggest problem facing the Golden Eagle, a problem that would be very real for the Eagles in Glen Ure, with not only the vehicles and machinery used in the construction of the mast, but the ongoing visits required for maintenance and refuelling of the generator.
Link to NatureScot page on the Golden Eagle:
Link to Glen Etive and Loch Fyne SPA:
Scottish Wildland Area
The site is also within the Scottish Wild Land Area (09. Loch Etive Mountains), which should be considered with planning applications as they are identified as nationally important in Scottish Planning Policy. The citation specifically mentions Glen Ure.
Development proposals in areas identified as wild land in the Nature Scot Wild Land Areas map will only be supported where the proposal:
i. will support meeting renewable energy targets; or,
ii. is for small scale development directly linked to a rural business or croft, or is required to support a fragile community in a rural area.
All such proposals must be accompanied by a wild land impact assessment which sets out how design, siting, or other mitigation measures have been and will be used to minimise significant impacts on the qualities of the wild land, as well as any management and monitoring arrangements where appropriate. Buffer zones around wild land will not be applied, and effects of development outwith wild land areas will not be a significant consideration.
(NPF4)
Link to Scottish Wildlands Area 09. Loch Etive Mountains:
National Planning Framework Policy 4
The building of a mast in this location breaches parts of NPF Policy 4- Sustainable Places Tackling the climate and nature crises.
Yew Trees
Glen Ure (Gleann Lubhair, valley of Yews) is a unique environment- a deep and steep sided glen with a range of native trees, mosses, bryophytes and lichens.
It is also home to ancient Yew trees, some of the slowest growing woody plants in the world.
Gordon Gray Stephens, Native Woods Cooperative, recently visited Glen Ure, and commented upon the exceptional ecological and cultural importance of the woodlands in Glen Ure:
“These woods are both an important fragment of Scotland’s internationally significant temperate rainforest, but also contain a notable collection of yew trees which are likely linked to very early records of woodland management by the Lords of the Isles”
Link to Scottish Yew Trees Glen Ure:
RSPB’s Concerns
RSPB Scotland have raised concerns over the applicant’s non-adherence to protocols over the previous planning application and, importantly, past transgressions.
Link to RSPB response to previous planning application:
Rural Coverage in the UK
The applicant has submitted a copy of ‘Rural mobile coverage in the UK: Not-spots and partial not-spots’, House of Commons Library.
This lists three benefits of improving rural mobile connectivity:
Economic growth and productivity- Not applicable, residential and businesses are not covered by the proposed mast or already have internet access.
Work Safety and satisfaction (lone workers)- There are very few workers here, 1 or 2 who are rarely away from phone coverage. They use satellite communications for safety. The latest mobile phones also have satellite connectivity for emergencies.
Reducing the digital divide, reducing loneliness– As there are no residential buildings that will benefit this is not applicable.
Link to Rural mobile coverage in the UK: Not-spots and partial not-spots’, House of Commons Library:
Environmental Principles Policy
The application is incompatible with the precautionary principle- one of the 5 environmental principles contained within the Environmental Principles policy statement.
Link to Environmental Principles policy:
Scottish Biodiversity Strategy
The application is in contradiction the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy.
Link to Scottish Biodiversity Strategy:
