Remote Scots village celebrates getting mobile phone signal for the first time

A remote South Ayrshire village is celebrating its first-ever mobile phone signal.

Barr Community Council announced the milestone this week, stressing the importance of mobile connectivity for residents, businesses and visitors in the small village ending its status as mobile phone ‘dead zone’.

The Community Council worked with Scottish Futures Trust, who provided the grant funding.

The infrastructure was delivered by Wave Mobile, whose antenna now provides 4G coverage to the village.

The official switch-on took place this week and was attended by local MP Elaine Stewart, who welcomed the project as a major step forward for rural inclusion and digital equality.

Tom Walker, Chair of Barr Community Council, said: “This is a huge moment for Barr, and one we’re proud to have made happen.

“Connectivity has long been a challenge in our village that has been repeatedly brought up over many years, so we have worked hard to bring this to the village.

“Our group is committed to delivering real, practical support in Barr. This is a great example of what can be achieved to help everyone in the parish.”

Ms Stewart, the MP for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock, praised the efforts of the community, pointing out that Storm Eowyn had reinforced the impact of connectivity.

She said: “Rural communities are too often left behind when it comes to digital connectivity, which is why I recently met with the Digital Infrastructure team of the Scottish Futures Trust to learn more about their work to improve digital connectivity locally and across Scotland.

“Actions like this transform isolation into inclusion for communities like Barr, giving them more opportunities and better access to crucial online services.

“After Storm Eowyn, people in Barr are all too familiar with the damage and disruption that harsh weather conditions and difficult terrain cause to critical infrastructure.

“Better connectivity is an essential part of overcoming these challenges.”

Barr Community Council have undertaken a number of projects over the last year, including £75 vouchers for each household after Storm Eowyn, free TV licences for over-75s, and Christmas vouchers for the schoolchildren.