Campaigners against the mass roll-out of new telecoms masts in remote parts of Highland Scotland have declared a 'major success', as it emerged that the taxpayer-funded programme has been significantly scaled back.

The Total Not Spot (TNS) element of the Shared Rural Network programme aims to bring 4G coverage to locations with none. But with an emphasis on landmass coverage rather than proven community need, it would have resulted in hundreds of phone masts, access tracks and ancillary infrastructure being built in remote areas far from roads, businesses or habitation.

A coalition of organisations and individuals, including Community Councils, Mountaineering Scotland, and the John Muir Trust, argued that many of these proposed sites served little or no practical purpose, and would have caused great damage to some of Scotland's most treasured mountains, including Wild Land Areas, National Scenic Areas, National Parks and sites near protected nature designations.

Following a review, the UK Government has now announced that the TNS part of the programme has been substantially reduced, from a previous estimate of 258 masts down to just 44. This downward revision follows feedback from communities and other groups and ensures, says the Government, that benefits are maximised while  ensuring best value to the public purse. That's about as close as we'll probably get to an admission that many of the previous sites were a waste of money.

Mountaineering Scotland Director for Landscape & Planning Andrew Tait said:

"We are delighted to hear the news that the UK Government has listened to the concerns raised and reviewed the need for public money to be spent on masts that would have no benefit for rural communities in Scotland.

"I'd especially like to thank Davie Black, our former Access & Conservation Officer, who recently retired, and put a huge amount of work into this campaign along with a team of volunteers who helped to monitor mast planning proposals over the last year. This is a huge success for Scotland's mountains and wild areas which are under ever increasing pressure from human development and activity."

Mountaineering Scotland promises to continue to monitor the remaining planning proposals to ensure that they meet the needs of local communities, whilst protecting the mountain environment.

One example of the need for continued vigilance is an anomaly in the wild heart of the Fannichs, where several mast proposals have so far survived the cull despite the programme's renewed emphasis on serving places where people actually live and work.

Every new mast is subject to the planning process, and thanks perhaps to the organised campaign, planning permission has already been denied in some cases. Other projects have been withdrawn by developers. It seems Government policy may finally be catching up with reality on the ground.