Remote Northumberland communities set to benefit from mast plans

An application for a proposed 25m tall lattice mast at Ladyship Field, Sharperton, has been submitted to Northumberland County Council by the Home Office.

Planning consultants, Entrust, in a report accompanying the application, state: ‘The emergency services currently use a mobile radio system (Airwave) to communicate but this needs replacement as the technology cannot deliver broadband data services.

‘This proposal, as a component of the emergency services network… is to provide additional infrastructure into primarily remote and commercially unviable areas where little or no mobile network coverage exists.’

The plans have been welcomed by local county councillor Steven Bridgett.

He said: “The mast not only represents a key piece of national infrastructure that will crucially, deliver the new emergency service signal to this area of Coquetdale but will also deliver a 4G mobile signal to Harbottle, Holystone, Sharperton, Dueshill, Plainfield, Warton, Flotterton, Westfield, Whittle, Trewhitt and Burradon. But also parts of Snitter, Thropton, Cartington, Hepple and Netherton.

“This is a start but we need further developments such as this if we are to ensure that a decent mobile signal can be received by not just local residents but also the many visitors that come to our beautiful but remote part of the world.”

The plans include a proposed access track including a pull in off the unclassified road (at Charity Hall) to allow gate operation without blocking the highway.

A final decision will be made by Northumberland County Council.

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