Plans have been submitted to Highland Council to erect a new ‘blue light’ emergency services telecommunications mast in Lochaber.
It is proposed to locate the new mast near Spean Bridge.
And as there is no – or very fragmented coverage at present west of the Commando Monument outside the village – it is considered essential to have the mast site at this location.
The planning application has been submitted by WHP Telecoms Ltd and the new ‘blue light’ communications service, called emergency services network, ESN, will replace the current system.
EE Ltd has been selected by the Home Office to provide the mobile network, which will give 300,000 critical emergency workers access to high-speed voice and data services.
There will also be the opportunity to extend 4G mobile coverage across some of the hard-to-reach Highland areas.
An O2 telecom mast is currently on the hillside site near the B8005 at Achnasaul which is used for agricultural grazing.
A new vehicle access track will also be required if the mast application is given the go-ahead.
