Latest news with #ScottishLand&Estates
STV News
4 days ago
- Politics
- STV News
More than 1,500 wildfires in decade must be ‘wake-up call', Tories say
More than 1,500 wildfires have been recorded in Scotland in the past decade, figures show, with the Conservatives warning the data must be a 'wake-up call' for ministers. Statistics from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service released to the party under freedom of information legislation show 1,574 wildfires between 2015 and the end of May this year. The Highlands suffered most, reporting 574 fires during that period, followed by 131 in the Western Isles. That compares with just seven in Renfrewshire and Clackmannanshire. The statistics also show the first five months of 2025 have already seen more wildfires reported than in any other full year apart from 2017 and 2018. It comes as a report from Scottish Land & Estates found two wildfires last year, at Carrbridge and Dava in the Highlands, were the biggest in Scotland's history. Scottish Tory rural affairs spokesman Tim Eagle said it was 'disgraceful' it took rural affairs minister Jim Fairlie three weeks to visit areas impacted by recent blazes. He said: 'These figures need to be an urgent wake-up call for ministers like him to change their approach.' He welcomed that the Scottish Government's controls on muirburn had been delayed by a year, but urged the First Minister to ensure rural areas 'won't be harmed further by misguided legislation and that the SNP's actions do not increase the threat these communities are increasingly facing from wildfires'. Muirburn – the controlled burning of vegetation on peatland – can help to limit wildfires, with the Scottish Government's new licensing scheme for the practice due to be in place this year. Mr Eagle added: 'This alarming rise in wildfire numbers raises significant concern about the growing threat they are posing to rural Scotland in particular. 'Areas like the Highlands are already facing huge challenges but are now having to brace themselves every time there is a spell of good weather. 'The recent wildfires we saw across the Highlands had a devastating impact across our landscape.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
STV News
04-07-2025
- Business
- STV News
Plans to install hundreds of 4G masts in rural areas scaled back
A project to install more than 250 mobile masts in rural Scotland has been massively scaled back following pressure from business and nature groups. The Shared Rural Network project had planned to build 258 4G masts across unserved parts of the country. But this will now be reduced to just 44 following revised plans – a reduction of around 83%. It comes after pressure from groups including Scottish Land & Estates, the John Muir Trust, the National Trust for Scotland, and a number of community councils. Opponents say the project would have installed masts in parts of the country that do not require them, and the scaled-down proposals will protect some of Scotland's most beautiful scenery. Anna Gardiner, senior policy adviser at Scottish Land & Estates, said: 'We are delighted that the Government has listened to our concerns and has scaled back the number of masts to be built in areas where they simply were not needed. 'This protects some of our most spectacular and beautiful landscapes and will alleviate pressure on planning authorities in rural areas. 'The original plan was totally flawed as it was based on covering an arbitrary percentage of the UK's geography, but in fact it did not benefit many of the rural communities and businesses which are currently in Total Not Spot Areas – where there is no 4G coverage from any provider. 'These areas are still crying out for a mobile network and in many cases community councils have been ignored. 'We would urge the UK Government to redirect the considerable sum of money that has been saved in order to prioritise these communities.' Thomas Widrow, head of campaigns for the John Muir Trust, said: 'This is great news for the amazing landscapes and biodiversity of Scotland. 'Some of the proposed locations for a mast were completely inappropriate. 'We need to ensure there is connectivity where people live and work, not in our most fragile and remote wild places.' Telecoms minister Sir Chris Bryant said: 'The Shared Rural Network has been a lifeline for rural areas, helping bring fast and reliable mobile internet to over 95% of the UK a year ahead of schedule. 'Our updated plans with telecoms operators will ensure new coverage is focused on those rural areas in Scotland where people actually live, work or travel, including popular walking routes. 'This important step will ensure masts are only built where they are most needed.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The National
04-07-2025
- Business
- The National
Mobile mast plans for rural Scotland massively scaled back
The Shared Rural Network project had planned to build 258 4G masts across unserved parts of the country. A PROJECT to install more than 250 mobile masts in rural Scotland has been massively scaled back following pressure from business and nature groups. But this will now be reduced to just 44 following revised plans – a reduction of around 83%. It comes after pressure from groups including Scottish Land & Estates, the John Muir Trust, the National Trust for Scotland, and a number of community councils. Opponents say the project would have installed masts in parts of the country that do not require them, and the scaled-down proposals will protect some of Scotland's most beautiful scenery. READ MORE: Plans for 1500 solar panels for historic Scottish hydro power stations Anna Gardiner, senior policy adviser at Scottish Land & Estates, said: 'We are delighted that the Government has listened to our concerns and has scaled back the number of masts to be built in areas where they simply were not needed. 'This protects some of our most spectacular and beautiful landscapes and will alleviate pressure on planning authorities in rural areas. 'The original plan was totally flawed as it was based on covering an arbitrary percentage of the UK's geography, but in fact it did not benefit many of the rural communities and businesses which are currently in Total Not Spot Areas – where there is no 4G coverage from any provider. 'These areas are still crying out for a mobile network and in many cases community councils have been ignored. 'We would urge the UK Government to redirect the considerable sum of money that has been saved in order to prioritise these communities.' Thomas Widrow, head of campaigns for the John Muir Trust, said: 'This is great news for the amazing landscapes and biodiversity of Scotland. 'Some of the proposed locations for a mast were completely inappropriate. READ MORE: Faslane nuclear base radioactive secrets to be released after FoI battle 'We need to ensure there is connectivity where people live and work, not in our most fragile and remote wild places.' Telecoms minister Chris Bryant said: 'The Shared Rural Network has been a lifeline for rural areas, helping bring fast and reliable mobile internet to over 95% of the UK a year ahead of schedule. 'Our updated plans with telecoms operators will ensure new coverage is focused on those rural areas in Scotland where people actually live, work or travel, including popular walking routes. 'This important step will ensure masts are only built where they are most needed.'
The Herald Scotland
01-07-2025
- Climate
- The Herald Scotland
Firefighters spend fourth day tackling wildfires
Dozens of firefighters have been involved in tackling the blazes, which broke out on Saturday. They have used specialist equipment including all-terrain vehicles, fogging units, leaf blowers and beaters on the ground, with SFRS wildfire tactical advisers co-ordinating the response. SFRS deputy assistant chief officer Ross Robison said: 'The vast scale of these fires has been challenging for our crews over the past four days, particularly because of the strong winds that have caused the fires and smoke to spread further across the landscape. READ MORE: 'There has been a significant deployment of resources to the area, including on call and whole-time crews from Aberdeenshire, Moray and Highland who have been working effectively alongside landowners and partner agencies. 'I'd like to recognise the efforts of all firefighters who attended and particularly those who are on call and often combine this role with other jobs in the community. 'They continue to be invaluable in responding to incidents like these that impact hugely on rural areas. 'We've been supported by the use of helicopters provided by partners for water bombardment and we have deployed specialist wildfire teams and assets.' Several roads have been closed while emergency services deal with the wildfires. People living and working in the area are advised to keep windows and doors closed if smoke is visible. Scottish Land & Estates (SLE), which represents rural businesses, highlighted the role gamekeepers have played in helping to tackle the fires. It called on the Scottish Government to urgently prioritise investment in wildfire prevention and response through measures including better resourcing of SFRS and more training for firefighters. While the situation has improved following rainfall, land managers and gamekeepers remain concerned about persistent smouldering, particularly in areas of deep peat, and will continue to monitor the situation closely over the coming days. Ross Ewing, director of moorland at SLE, said: 'The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service played a vital role in this incident, particularly in command, control and co-ordination, but the reality is that the majority of the hands-on firefighting was undertaken by gamekeepers – using their own equipment, experience and local knowledge. 'Without that rapid response from the land management community, the situation could have been far worse – and concerns remain that flare-ups could yet occur. 'Their efforts were exceptional, but we cannot rely on goodwill and geography to deliver a credible wildfire response. 'In this case, private investment by landowners in their employees and specialist equipment averted a catastrophe. Ministers must recognise this when future spending decisions are made. 'Real weaknesses in our national resilience to wildfire have been laid bare in this incident.' The Scottish Government and SFRS have been asked for comment.
