A planned 82 foot (25m) high 4G telecommunications mast in protected moorland next to the ‘iconic’ Yorkshire Three Peaks route has been described as ‘incongruous clutter’.

The application by Clarke Telecom, is part of a Shared Rural Network project, on behalf of Cornerstone, and proposes to install a lattice tower, with six antennas, four transmission dishes on land at West Close Pasture, Philpin Lane, Chapel-le-dale.

The scheme also includes a generator and fuel tank, access track and gated compound, on hardstanding. It is within the Whernside Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSI) and is close to several footpaths, including the Yorkshire Three Peaks route, between Whernside and Ingleborough. It is also close to a footpath to Ribblehead Viaduct.

Campaigning environmental charity, Friends of the Dales says while understanding the need to improve communications in the national park, such a development would damage the open moorland area and be clearly visible to people using the Yorkshire Three Peaks route between Whernside and Ingleborough.

The Dales Hang gliding and Paragliding Club, which has about 200 members, has also objected to the scheme saying the planned location of the mast ‘conflicts with its designated emergency landing field’, while the owner of Broadrake, a bunk barn and craft workshops business nearby, says it will have a ‘massive visual impact’ for the estimated 100,000 to 200,000 people who use the Yorkshire Three Peaks route every year.

In a design and access statement accompanying the application, which was submitted in October, last year, Clarke Telecom/Cornerstone, states an initial meeting took place with representatives of the national park in April, 2021.

The Shared Rural Network is a Government backed scheme between the mobile network operators to get geographical coverage from at least one operator to 95 per cent of the UK by the end of 2025, broadening consumer choice for mobile services in rural areas.

Cornerstone hopes to deliver the shared network on behalf of Vodafone, Telefonica and Three, and is considering six sites in the national park, including the one in Chapel-le-dale.

It states: “There are many rural areas in the UK which are partial not spots. That is, there is only coverage with one mobile network operator. An installation in this location will ensure that 4G coverage is provided by the three Mobile Network Operators – Vodafone, Telefonica and Three.

“This is shared infrastructure which is in full accordance with national planning policy. It will improve services whilst limiting the environmental impact through reduced proliferation and a minimised number of sites.”

But in its objection, Friends of the Dales, based in Gargrave, says: “Whilst we understand the need for masts to improve communications, this site falls within a Site of Special Scientific Interest, as well as being located within a remote part of the national park.

“For these reasons, we would expect the highest possible standards with regards to the siting and design of the structure. Whilst the proposed site is at a relatively low level, it is still very visually prominent, and will be in clear view from the higher land surrounding it, most of which is open access.

“Moreover it will be clearly visible along the length of the well-used Yorkshire Three Peaks route between Ingleborough and Whernside. This is an open, remote and special landscape and a structure like this must be sited to avoid such unacceptable visual intrusion. It would introduce an incongruous clutter of built forms and an extensive area of hard-standing. This application needs to be re-considered."

The Dales Hang-gliding and Paragliding Club says in its objection comment: “We have been flying from Whernside since 1974 and the proposed location of this mast conflicts with our designated emergency landing field. The flight safety implications are fairly obvious: denial of a landing field, the mast itself and the additional power lines leading to it.”

Clarke Telecom and Cornerstone in their submission continue: “Better connectivity has real, tangible benefits for people and businesses, such as booking GP appointments online, using apps to communicate with friends and family, boosting tourism and agriculture through platforms such as social media which is now an important marketing tool for businesses, access to emergency services.

“4G can provide a means to connect to superfast broadband where fibre broadband is not yet available. As part of Cornerstone’s continued network improvement program, and the Government’s aspiration to broaden geographical coverage to 95 per cent of the UK by the end of 2025, there is a specific requirement for a new installation at this location to provide 4G coverage and capacity, ensuring that this area of Ingleton has access to good, reliable advanced telecommunications.”

But, one walker on the Three Peaks route, on Tuesday, Chris Dawson, from Wensleydale, said: “ I can understand the need to improve connectivity, but the price is too high in such a rare, iconic and beautiful area.”

An objector on the national park authority's website commented: “It will totally disrupt and destroy the landscape of the countryside. It cannot be hidden due to the open area that it will be placed in. It will be seen from the main road from Ingleton to the Ribblehead viaduct, also while your enjoying your ride on the Settle to Carlisle railway it will be seen at the bottom of Whernside."

Another states: “There is no need for 5G or even 4G in the vicinity and certainly not from an obtrusive mast. There is B4RN broadband in the area and there are properties that offer free WiFi, which obviously is unobtrusive, so I don’t see the need for a mast never mind in this location.”

Ingleton Parish Council has raised no objection to the scheme, which is currently under consideration by the national park authority.