Countryside Alliance welcomes the pledge to close the digital divide

The Culture Secretary, Nicky Morgan, has announced proposals to improve digital connectivity in rural areas. The Culture Secretary stated that rural areas will be the Government's priority in the drive to give 5G to all and you can read all about it here.

The Countryside Alliance has long campaigned to improve the mobile phone signal in the countryside as the ongoing digital divide is scandalous and not only puts peoples lives at risk but restricts the ability to run a business. The Countryside Alliance welcomes this discussion on planning as we believe the planning system must not be a barrier to upgrading mobile infrastructure and increasing mobile coverage.

The proposals in the consultation seek the views on amending or creating new permitted development rights to:

a. enable deployment of radio housing equipment on land without requiring prior approval, excluding on sites of special scientific interest, to support 5G deployment;

b. strengthen existing masts to enable sites to be upgraded for 5G and for mast sharing without prior approval;

c. enable the deployment of building-based masts nearer to highways to support deployment of 5G and extend mobile coverage, subject to prior approval; and

d. enable higher masts to deliver better mobile coverage and mast sharing, subject to prior approval.

Read the consultation here.

If we are to enable our countryside to thrive and prosper in this digital world then most people living in rural areas will have an understanding that this is necessary to deal with a fundamental problem that puts rural communities at a disadvantage.