No need for so many mobile phone masts, says Caithness estate manager
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A Caithness estate manager is baffled by a planned cluster of new telecom masts on his patch.
Anson MacAuslan believes the development represents "overkill" and will spoil the wide-open vistas of the surrounding wild land.
He believes the companies involved should co-operate to share masts and reduce the prospective visual impact on Welbeck Estates, which he manages.
Speaking from his office in Berriedale, he put his weight behind EE Ltd's bid to erect a 35-metre high lattice mast at Conachreag, on land north-west of Braemore Lodge.
It is planned as part of the UK government-backed £1 billion Shared Rural Network programme to target so-called "not spots" without any mobile coverage.
Though fronted by EE, the resultant 4G coverage provided by the mast would be made available to O2, Three and Vodafone.
Mr MacAuslan believes this would serve the needs of the area, with other proposed masts being superfluous.
He said: "The site chosen will give the best possible coverage and will negate the need for further masts within this area, thus protecting its wild nature.
"Unfortunately areas of true wilderness are becoming vanishingly small and I think we need to protect them."
Mr MacAuslan said the state support for new masts is welcome but he believes the separate UK and Scottish Government schemes have led to a plethora of mast sites being tabled without an overall plan.
The estate currently hosts three telecoms masts, including one EE recently erected at Langwell strath.
Mr MacAuslan said he has had a clutch of approaches about potential new mast locations in both Langwell and Braemore.
Plans have been firmed up for another mast on Langwell strath, just off the Achorn road, within 500 metres from the existing EE site.
He said: "This is all potentially a significant waste of public money since in the remoter rural areas, under both enhancement schemes, the masts are fully funded by the government.
"Currently there are a number of other proposed mast sites in this area and it seems extraordinary that sharing of sites cannot be encouraged or even insisted upon.
"I think it is an issue throughout the Highlands and Islands that needs to be addressed."
The estate has objected to a planning application lodged by Cornerstone for a 20-metre high mast on the Braemore strath at Achinavish, about two miles east of Conachreag.
"There seems to be no joined-up thinking in terms of sharing facilities," said Mr MacAuslan, who has managed the estate since 2006.
"It is both desirable and necessary to have good network coverage but there needs to be some thought given to the visual impact of all these masts.
"We're going to have a lot of these masts dotted around the place when there is no real need for most of them."
Mr MacAuslan said if landowners knock back approaches, developers can use compulsory purchase powers to secure the land.
A Cornerstone spokesperson said: "Cornerstone understands that our mobile infrastructure impacts communities and can lead to concern about proposed developments.
"For this reason, we give great consideration to the location and design of our developments.
"We aim to ensure they integrate into the area while providing improved coverage for local residents and visitors to the area.
"The proposed site at Braemore will provide 4G coverage to the local area from three mobile network operators, allowing local businesses and communities to access essential mobile connectivity."
