TMCnet News
Phone campaign going to the top [Newcastle Journal (England)](Newcastle Journal (England) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) ACAMPAIGN group set up to fight for improved internet and mobile phone service in a remote part of Northumberland has taken its battle to government. Digital Coquetdale, which is hoping to bring superfast broadband to the Coquet Valley near Rothbury and address the area's lack of mobile service, wrote to a minister asking for a mobile mast to be erected at Harbottle to provide such a service throughout the area. Meanwhile, village hall bosses there have agreed to host equipment which would provide a service for users of one phone network. However, residents in a hamlet close by face the loss of their phone box. The Coquet Valley campaign is involved in parish council and village meetings to build awareness and involve local people in a datagathering exercise about the limitations of existing broadband and mobile systems and prove the need for investment. It has previously been backed in the House of Lords by writer and landowner Viscount Matt Ridley, a Conservative peer, and by Berwick Liberal Democrat MP Sir Alan Beith. Group member Margaret Ranken, a telecoms expert and clerk to Harbottle Parish Council, recently wrote to secretary of state for culture, media and sport Sajid Javid expressing interest in the BDUK Mobile Infrastructure Project (MIP). The department's Pounds 150m project aims to improve mobile services in rural areas where there is no commercial case to do so and is being delivered by company Arqiva. The group wants a mast to be provided at Harbottle, to serve the wider valley. Mrs Ranken explained the importance of a mobile signal to the area: "People who are out walking and so on expect to be able to call the emergency services if they are in trouble, for example the shepherds who come off their quad bikes, and there is little coverage in this area." A reply from minister Ed Vaizey, minister for culture and the digital economy says Harbottle is in an area regarded as suitable for the project. It adds Arqiva is to meet Northumberland County Council and Northumberland National Park Authority to update on progress in the wider area including Harbottle. Meanwhile, Harbottle Village Committee is said to have agreed in principle to host a Vodafone Open Sure Signal box, which would provide a service for users of that network. However, the committee has reportedly said it will not cover the Pounds 30 annual power bill for the box on the basis it will benefit only Vodafone users and not the whole community. BT has left a notice in the phone box at Sharperton announcing a 42-day consultation exercise is to be conducted. The move has sparked concern on the group's Facebook page, with users saying it should be retained in the event of emergencies given the lack of mobile signal in the area. A BT spokeswoman said only seven calls had been made from the box in the last 12 months. She added: "Due to low usage it has now been put into our consultation programme." BT said a reason for retaining a box would be if it is next to an accident black spot: "We certainly do not want to remove a kiosk which is providing a valuable service to the community but equally we do not want under-used, unneeded kiosks remaining in situ." People out walking and so on expect to be able to call the emergency services if they are in troubleMargaret Ranken (c) 2014 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved. |