Improved 4G mobile telephone reception has taken a step closer in a corner of the Lake District.
The Lake District National Park Authority has given in principle support for the design and siting of an 82ft (25m) lattice telecoms mast at Whinlatter Forest.
According to plans, it would rectify signal problems on Whinlatter Pass and also in Thornthwaite.
Also benefiting would be Millbeck and Applethwaite on the other side of Bassenthwaite, documents show.
A national park report, giving prior approval to the design and siting of the mast, said: “The public benefits in terms of improved commercial mobile network coverage are noted and weigh in favour of the application.”
Painted dark green, the mast would have six antennas and four dishes. It is planned to go on land off the Altura South mountain biking trail after six other locations were ruled out. It is an area of woodland known as Hospital Plantation.
Planners determined that the mast would have “moderate adverse” visual impact and a “minor adverse” landscape impact.
However, they also said that in making the decision, “considerable weight” had to be attached to the benefits it would bring.
The planners’ report said: “The most prominent views of the installation would be from the mountain bike trails that lead past the site. Whinlatter is a popular destination for mountain biking and trails extend through the forest on both sides of the valley.
“The site is at the confluence of a number of the marked routes and would afford bikers extensive views of the mast and associated equipment.
“Walkers are discouraged from using the bike trails though there are a small number of walking trails close by which would also afford views of the installation. When seen from these vantage points the proposal would appear a highly utilitarian structure in the landscape.
“However, views would be fleeting, obscured by nearby trees and would be seen in the context of a commercially managed woodland.”
The application was made by Cornerstone, which describes itself as the UK’s leading mobile infrastructure services company.
It said the proposal is part of the Government-backed scheme called Shared Rural Network. It is a collaboration between mobile network operators Virgin Media, 02, Vodafone and Three to improve 4G coverage for people living, working and travelling in poorly served rural areas.
