Mountaineers have called for plans to erect a phone mast in one of Scotland’s most beautiful glens, made famous by James Bond, to be rejected.
Telecommunications company EE has sought permission to site a 32ft phone mast and ancillary structures at the roadside in the glen, at a prominent corner near the southern end of Buachaille Etive Mor, one of the country’s most photographed mountains.
Mountaineering Scotland has objected to the planning application, arguing that the mast – and two others being considered for the glen – would be visually intrusive in a landscape that has featured in tourism publicity and even the Bond film Skyfall.
The organisation has suggested alternative sites within Glen Etive where the equipment may be less visually intrusive.
The glen runs east to west from the head of Glen Coe at the Kings House Hotel to Loch Etive at the sea.
In its objection, submitted to The Highland Council, Mountaineering Scotland argues that an otherwise largely unspoilt landscape and visitor experience would be compromised.
David Gibson, chief executive of Mountaineering Scotland, said: “Glen Etive is an iconic, beautiful glen within a National Scenic Area: one which offers visitors a fantastic experience of the true wild nature of Scotland’s mountains.
“The mast and infrastructure would render some views utterly ordinary.
“The proposal is simply unacceptable and is a poor example of a developer seeking an expedient solution.
“We would expect EE and their parent BT Group to exercise better judgement of the true value of Scotland’s landscape, as an asset to be enjoyed by many, not exploited for a quick fix solution.
“We ask them to withdraw the proposal and think again.”
In its objection, Mountaineering Scotland points out that it is clear that a number of alternative locations within the glen could be used – as suggested by Scottish Natural Heritage – which would use the backdrop of the hills to make the visual impact less severe.
The mountaineering body states: “As an organisation representing those who enjoy a range of outdoor activities, we recognise the importance of effective mobile telecommunications, especially in the context of safety in the hills.
“However, we believe that in the case of this proposal, that viable alternatives are available to the developer.
“We object to the proposal and would urge EE and BT Group to think again.”
An EE spokeswoman said: “We are in the early stages of planning for Glen Etive and the surrounding area, and are already considering other options to ensure that we minimise the impact on the outstanding scenery and environment.
“Providing mobile coverage in Glen Etive is critical for search and rescue, the new Emergency Services Network and visitors to the area, and we welcome the feedback from Mountaineering Scotland and other parties as we develop our plans for providing mobile coverage in the area.”
