Nesting seagulls cut off mobile phone signal in part of North Norfolk
Duncan Baker has pressed the Deputy Prime Minister to address the situation
Seagulls nesting in a telecoms mast are preventing people nearby from getting a phone signal and putting public safety at risk, a Tory MP has told the Commons.
Conservative MP Duncan Baker, who raised the issue at Prime Minister's Questions, said the issue was affecting his North Norfolk constituency, and would be "comical" if it was not "so serious".
Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden agreed to take up the issue with Natural England at the MP's request.
Mr Baker said: "If it wasn't so serious it would be comical.
"However, in Horning on the Norfolk Broads, I have a whole area totally cut off from having a mobile signal - wait for it - until August, because of nesting seagulls taking up residency in the new telecoms mast.
"Gulls are protected, the nest can't be moved, but let's say a family holidaying on the Norfolk Broads gets into distress this summer, they will not be able to make an emergency call which could be life-threatening."
He asked the Deputy Prime Minister to help him and call on Natural England to be "sensible" and ensure for "public safety reasons we can get a mobile phone mast working in a prime holiday location".
Mr Dowden said: "We all love the diversity of wildlife in this country and particularly on the North Norfolk coast that he represents.
"But I think he makes a very strong point about the balance between that and ensuring people have access to modern communication facilities. And I shall certainly take it up with Natural England."