A mobile signal for Seil

[NickB]

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Spiderman first raised this issue on here back in 2007. Five years on nothing has happened. In the meantime the whole world has gone mobile and the waters round Seil are awash with kayakers many of whom won't carry VHF. I also imagine that a lack of mobile signal renders Seil less attractive for our young people.

Is it time?

[Pentlandpirate]

Spiderman first raised this issue on here back in 2007

And you told him there are far more important things than banging on about a mobile signal. But he was right. Too much of life now revolves around mobile devices and the internet, any holes in the network need to be filled. Lives do depend on it now. So who's going to pay for it and install it?

[brodie]

Furthermore, many young people of my acquaintance won't go anywhere where Wi-Fi is not available and they check in advance.

[spiderman]

Thanks for raising this issue again, Nick. The need is so much greater now. Surely this really is something that our Community Council can look into, and, comprising many local landowners, can usefully act upon? Please.....

[Pentlandpirate]

Don't forget the KAAAPPPOWWWW!!!!

[NickB]

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I think it needs to be raised at the Community Council, but with some evidence that there is strong support.

I would be happy to organise an online petition (through a third party website).

[Pentlandpirate]

Surely it only needs one call in a life or death situation to make it worthwhile?

[spiderman]

Probably won't get a decent signal until we have independence, eh PP?! Kapppooowwww!

[Pentlandpirate]

You'll be waiting a very long time then KKKAAAAAAPPPPPOOOOWWWW!!!!

[spiderman]

PP, I look forward to texting a gloating "you were wrong" message in a few years time! Kapppoooowwww

[Pentlandpirate]

Do you want to put money on it?

I can't make much if the 'No's win.
http://www.oddschecker.com/politics-and ... um-outcome

But if you are confident of a 'YES', stick everything you have on it.

[spiderman]

Spiderman doesn't gamble but he does specialise in miracles with happy endings....

[Pentlandpirate]

Spiderman doesn't gamble but he does specialise in miracles with happy endings....

.........in a fictitious world!

[spiderman]

..........unbeliever...................

[NickB]

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I suppose most of you have seen Project Fear's latest gaffe, where Westminster warned that Scots would have to pay costly international roaming charges to use their mobile phones in England after independence – even though the EU voted to abolish the charges just a fortnight ago.



Wouldn't it be more useful if MPs at Westminster sorted out the lack of mobile phone coverage in rural Scotland rather than scaremongering over imaginary post-independence mobile charges ?

[spiderman]

Eventually, in this land of Maxwell and Bell, whose pioneering works first made possible the land-line phone and mobile, we will have a working telecommunications system for all. It is only because of Scotland being sequentially disadvantaged and exploited by Westminster that we are amongst the last to enjoy the benefits of our own creativity. In a less intellectual way, our own oil is the dearest in UK. Only a YES vote will see injustices such as these corrected. What a nerve for the No campaign to threaten us Scots about the costs of our telephones! Get into these Green Goblins - vote YES!!

[Pentlandpirate]

Good morning Spider! It's been a long time!

I agree that to headline this issue seems a bit pathetic, but actually it makes a valid point that highlights the benefits of being together. By being together these sort of things are irrelevant. There are thousands of minor aspects to life that may be different if Scotland separates, and not all for the better. If Scotland separates and then rUK leaves the EU, roaming charges would apply if using today's systems. This could affect many people either travelling across or living near the border. This is all part of the 'conversation on independence' that Alex Salmond wanted

Again the Yes Campaigners blame someone else, as they always seem to do (i.e Westminster), as to why they have no mobile service in Seil. What has stopped the Scottish Government in Edinburgh investing in such infrastructure and services? The problem lies in Scotland. If the referendum vote is 'No' imagine how much money will have been wasted by Alex Salmond and his followers.

[spiderman]

Yes, PP, but roaming charges are being abolished by the EU. It's all just a pathetic Fear campaign by the Green Goblin No camp. Under independence, things will be different, not everything better, but we will be making our own decisions and molding our own future, not being governed by an unrepresentative parliament in an increasingly divided, unequal, unfair and bankrupt UK. KAPPPOOOOOW! http://www.snp.org/media-centre/news/20 ... ard-debate

[longshanks]

At risk of raining on the Nationalists parade we will have to pay the roaming charge as it is only being removed for EU member states and there is absolutely NO CERTAINTY that we will be a full member of the EU, only uncorroborated aspiration.

The huge problem we have is that the SNP have not thought about the "unintended consequences" of independence (or maybe they have, have gone OMG and are desperately trying to close debate by constantly screaming "scaremongering").

Its only right that the lid is lifted, the contents examined and debate engaged in before we vote.

Here's one more, of many:

The HGV Road User Levy Act 2013 introduces a charge of £10 per day to all HGVs weighing 12 tons or more using the UK road network from April 2014.

The fee for UK hauliers will be offset with reductions to Vehicle Excise Duty announced by the Chancellor in the 2013 budget.

An independent Scotland’s hauliers would have to pay the Road User Levy if crossing the Border, in the same way as French and German companies. EU rules will prevent any special arrangements being made for Scottish firms.

60% of our exports are sold to England and a further 30% transit England en route to their final destination, the vast majority by road !

Now, that is not scaremongering. Its fact.

Think of the effect it will have on the profitability of our companies and our hauliers, or, if the charge is passed on in higher prices, on our competiveness.

So lets stop all this stupid insulting language everytime someone lifts the lid and debate the negative consequences of a Yes vote in a mature manner.

Shankers.

[spiderman]

Hooked again, Longshanks, like the greenest of Green Goblins! Can't we stick to mobile phone signals on this thread? Rather than parrot the Fear nonsense in today's tabloids? Hardly the basis for what you call a "mature" debate. However, in view of the simplicity of your approach, here's a similarly unthoughtful crib from the Yes campaign. Frankly, it seems to me to make a lot more sense than your scaremongering quote!

"With independence, Scotland will gain full control of vehicle excise duty and fuel taxes. This will mean that an independent Scottish Government can set these measures in line with the needs of Scotland's hauliers and motorists.

"The HGV road user scheme and VED changes being introduced by the UK Government will already be in place ahead of independence. Scotland would therefore take on a share of revenues from the scheme and would have exactly the same powers as the UK Government to put in place offsetting measures for Scottish hauliers.

"Scotland has a long-standing stake in UK institutions, such as the DVLA, DSA and VOSA, and these services are mostly paid for by fees paid by motorists. This means an independent Scotland would have a range of options for providing these services in an independent Scotland."

Back to the thread topic of mobile phone signals and the lack of same on Seil, my opinion, as I've said before, is that the community council really should have given this significant local need its fullest attention and, as many members are local landowners, they should have offered sites for masts, for which they would be well remunerated. Win win. Nowadays, a mobile phone signal is not only a social requirement, it's also a serious health and safety issue.