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Farming Today: 28/02/24 Phone masts in remote areas, river pollution, chalkstreams on farms

28/02/24 Phone masts in remote areas, river pollution, chalkstreams on farms

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 28/02/24 Phone masts in remote areas, river pollution, chalkstreams on farms

Some landowners say phone masts in wild, remote areas are a risk to the environment.

In 2020 the government pledged to achieve 4G mobile phone coverage across 95% of the UK landmass by the end of next year - but a National Audit Office report which has just been published, says the target is unlikely to be met.  The government chooses where the masts are site and some landowners have voiced concerns that hundreds still need to be put up in very isolated areas, so the 95% target can be met.  We speak to Kenny Munn a  land agent and also to Digital Mobile Spectrum who represent mobile phone companies. 

In Teesside, new technology, which resembles a small surfboard is being used to detect potential pollution on waterways. It's being operated by a Barnard Castle company in partnership with the Tees Rivers Trust. 

A group of farmers in South Wiltshire have formed Wylye Chalkstream Project - it also includes the Wessex Rivers Trust and the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. 
This is one of the government’s Landscape Recovery Schemes -  the highest tier of the Environmental Land Management schemes, which in England are replacing the previous payments made to farmers under the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy.

Presenter = Anna Hill
Producer = Marie Lennon.

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28/02/24 Phone masts in remote areas, river pollution, chalkstreams on farms

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