I’m increasingly concerned that just west of the city in the Marsh and Quay areas of Lancaster, the O2 signal masts attached to the chimney of the old A1 Supa Skips site on the Lune industrial estate have been out of action for some time, causing bad signal across the Marsh area.

Last year the permit for the company at the site to process waste was removed by the Environment Agency, due to the company not acting in line with rules that protect the environment and human health.

Since then, the site has been effectively closed whilst the council and Environment Agency undertake a legal battle to deal with the ecological fallout and waste at the site which still remains.

This includes increases in pests and rodents, thefts and vandalism (including to the cabling serving the O2 masts), along with the building and chimney itself falling into disrepair making access unsafe – not to mention a recent fire.

Sadly, O2 tell me that although they too are taking all the legal steps they can, ultimately it is unsafe for engineers to access the site to address the signal.

I have been in regular contact with O2, the City Council, and Environment Agency on this, and everyone is frustrated by a lack of power to deal with the site and get past the legal issues.

To try and cut through all this and get a solution, on the 10th July I raised this issue in Parliament and managed to secure a meeting this month with the Levelling up minister Dehenna Davison. Unfortunately, the minister resigned on the day of our meeting, and so I have now asked the newly appointed minister Jacob Young to meet with me to solve this.

In the meantime, following the recent fire at the site I have asked the Chief Executive of Lancaster City Council for an update, including an update on the legal case against the owners of the site, security measures to prevent trespassing and further damage, and any communication from O2 regarding their equipment on the site.

On 19th July, O2 advised me that this site has been out of service since 13 May 2023 and at the moment there’s no firm date for getting it back on air.

Sadly, O2 tell me that although they too are taking all the legal steps they can, ultimately it is unsafe for engineers to access the site and chimney to address their signal.

I have written to O2 to ask what temporary – or indeed permanent – efforts they can make to find an alternative site for masts to serve the area.