Currently, there is inadequate indoor and outdoor mobile phone coverage in Calder Vale, with some areas having no service at all.

This is particularly concerning given the recent flooding across the area and drops in electricity – and ahead of the BT Digital Voice switchover where landline calls will be made over the broadband network as the ageing copper network is discontinued.

I have already voiced my concerns to BT on this, particularly for older and more vulnerable people who use telecare systems, and whilst BT have given me some reassurances on dedicated landlines and batteries, it is worrying that with poor mobile coverage residents risk remaining cut off in the even of a power cut.

I have written to the telecommunications company Telefonica UK (O2) asking what they can do to improve the mobile signal in Calder Vale, and my letter to them is below.