Trust reacts to SRN rollback by UK Government

The Trust is delighted by the UK Government's decision to cut back funding for the Shared Rural Network programme's plans to erect telephone masts in rural areas.

We are very pleased to hear the UK Government has sided with the unprecedented coalition of concern ranging across organisations from environmental charities to local communities and private landowners.

^ Hill walker on the summit of Tom na Gruagaich in winter, Beinn Alligin, Torridon, Scotland, © Mark Hamblin / 2020Vision

The Shared Rural Network programme is a collaboration between the UK Government and four big mobile phone operators (EE, O2, Three and Vodafone), which is aiming to reach full 4G mobile phone coverage across Britain and thereby eradicating "not-spots" - rural areas with no phone coverage at all. 

In order to meet these targets, extremely remote and ecologically fragile areas were set to accommodate unnecessary telecoms masts and related infrastructure, leaving a significant mark on these precious wild places.

In September, a joint letter was sent to Sir Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State for Digital and Data Infrastructure, asking the government to review the ‘Total Not-Spot’ element of the Shared Rural Network and arguing that the Network failed to consider whether people living in rural areas needed or wanted the masts.

The letter was signed by the John Muir Trust along with 46 other signatories, including Scottish Land & Estates, RSPB Scotland, Mountaineering Scotland, the National Trust for Scotland, Ramblers Scotland and Woodland Trust Scotland.

Thomas Widrow, Head of Campaigns at the John Muir Trust, said: "At a time when environmental protection in planning is under threat in the UK, it is encouraging to see the Labour Government side with nature on this particular case.

"We're delighted that ministers have made the decision to side with the coalition for nature and rural communities, and look forward to working with UK Government agencies and network operators to deliver connectivity where needed and protect the country's wild places."