NEARLY 40 new mobile phone masts in the Yorkshire Dales national park have been given planning permission in the last five years - but many have not yet been switched on.

The national park authority says the masts should provide much improved coverage for residents, businesses and visitors, and a boost to the economy of the area - but it has been frustrated that many are not operational.

Richard Foster, Member Champion for Sustainable Development at the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, said: “It’s great the infrastructure is being put in place - but a bit frustrating that we’re yet to see the benefits of increased coverage. The schemes we have already approved will significantly improve connectivity right across the national park."

Since 2019, the national park has received planning applications for almost 40 new phone masts. They include applications on behalf of two Government-backed projects. The Emergency Services Network critical communications system aims to replace old Telecoms masts with new ones that can also be used by commercial networks.

And, the Shared Rural Network scheme aims to deliver reliable mobile broadband, improving 4G coverage to 95 per cent of the UK and 74 per cent of National Parks, including some of the more remote areas of the Yorkshire Dales.

Mr Foster added: “We are now receiving applications for masts in some of our most remote and beautiful locations. It’s not easy to find the right locations, balancing the need to improve coverage with the need to conserve and enhance the remarkable natural beauty of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

“We will continue to listen to the differing views of local residents, businesses, farmers and landowners and work closely with the operators to try to ensure masts being proposed are appropriate for their locations and worthwhile in terms of the additional coverage they’ll be providing for people.

“In the meantime, we would hope that the many masts that we have already approved will be made operational as soon as possible, so the benefit of improved connectivity in the national park can start to be felt by those who need it most”.

In a recent resident’s survey carried out by the park authority, 57 percent of respondents indicated that the lack of broadband and mobile coverage as a significant or occasional issue.

Currently under consideration by the national park authority is a plan to build a mast at Middlesmoor Pasture, Kettlewell. The proposal is part of the Government backed Shared Rural Network.