Halifax MP fights for compensation after O2 mast down for months
Kate Dearden says lives and livelihoods affected by mobile phone outage
Hello and welcome to The Calderdale Lead.
I hope you’re having a good week. The good news is that the weather is meant to get more seasonal - aka sunnier! - by the weekend so we’ve only got a couple more days of this wind and rain!
In today’s edition we’ve got
Plus a couple of nuggets in the Calderdale Digest…
Calderdale Digest
💨 Anyone wanting to submit their comments to the statutory consultation over a controversial giant windfarm proposed for Calderdale moorland has a day left, if they have not already done so.
Calderdale Energy Park plans to put 34 giant wind turbines on Walshaw Moor, which is located between Hebden Bridge and Haworth, the village associated with the Bronte sisters.
The proposals have met with strong resistance from campaigners concerned about potential damage to peatland and loss of moorland habitat which is home to birds.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband will ultimately decide whether or not this controversial application is given the green light.
The consultation allows people to submit their views on the proposals, whether for, against or neutral.
You have until until 23.59pm TONIGHT to submit their response to the statutory consultation.
You can submit your objection by emailing info@calderdaleenergypark.co.uk, or submit via post to Freepost, Calderdale Energy Park – for postal submissions, they will allow a seven‑day grace period after the consultation closes.
The link to the consultation can be found here.
🚴♀️ A new round of regional grants to promote walking, wheeling and cycling around West Yorkshire is open for bids.
Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin has invested more than £1.7 million in 33 of these hubs since 2022, including a north Halifax based travel hub, and she is encouraging groups to apply.
Grants of up to £50,000 are available to establish walking, wheeling and cycling hubs, while grants of up to £5,000 are available for smaller projects including group walks, cycling training sessions or equipment loans.
Mayor Brabin said there were physical and mental health benefits resulting, it helps the environment and is a way to explore the region in a more-affordable way.
“Getting active helps people lead healthier, happier lives whilst also saving money.
“This funding will break down barriers to walking, wheeling and cycling, supporting more people to explore and enjoy everything our wonderful region has to offer.
“This is part of our mission to create a greener, better-connected West Yorkshire for everyone,” she said.
Mixenden Active Travel Hub, based across two sites in north Halifax, launched in 2025 after receiving a Combined Authority grant.
It paid for new e-bikes and tools, extra bike maintenance training and staffing.
Funding applications are open until 11.59pm on Wednesday, July 1.
To qualify for the funding, each organisation must be able to demonstrate its commitment to developing walking, wheeling and cycling in its local community.
To find out more and learn how to make an application, click here.
Halifax MP has O2 in her sights for compensation over mast outage
By Andrew Greaves
Halifax MP Kate Dearden has welcomed the resumption of mobile phone signal in Northowram after fighting for residents who had gone without it for several months.
But she says the delay from O2 in getting the mast fixed means residents and businesses should now get compensation from the mobile network and has vowed to fight for compensation.
Earlier this year, an O2 mast in Wyke that acted as a “feeder” to a mast in Northowram was damaged, leaving residents without the mobile phone service they pay for and rely on. Alongside O2 customers, Vodafone, Tesco, Sky, Lebara and Asda Mobile customers were also affected.
After hearing from affected residents, local Ms Dearden launched a campaign pushing for O2 to get the mast fixed as quickly as possible, raising the serious impacts this has had on residents’ lives, and demanding greater clarity and communication for customers.
Residents had complained that O2 had been unacceptably slow to fix this issue and did not provide clear or frequent communications or updates to those affected.
Now, following Ms Dearden’s campaign, O2 have now confirmed the mobile phone mast in Wyke has been fixed, bringing great relief to local residents.
Despite the service resumption, Kate has continued to make the case for compensation for those affected.
Alongside not receiving a service they had paid for, residents have also shared the significant impact this disruption has had on their lives including missing important appointments, causing challenges for local businesses who are struggling to operate and interrupting family and friends from getting together.
She said: “O2 took far too long to resolve this issue and, time and again, residents told me they were left without clear or timely updates.
“Whilst I welcome the fact that, after sustained pressure, mobile service has now resumed, it is completely unacceptable that residents were left without a reliable signal for 11 weeks.
“That is why I am continuing to press for compensation for affected residents and businesses. People deserve far better than this, and these companies must recognise the impact this disruption has had on local communities.”
Local residents have now been asked by the mobile phone companies to submit claims directly to their providers by the following methods:
O2: Can be contacted on 202 from an O2 device, or from a landline on 0344 809 0202.
Sky: Affected constituents can contact Sky’s customer service team on 03442 414 141 (open seven days a week, 8.00am–9.00pm).
Tesco Mobile: Can be contacted via webchat or email by visiting www.tescomobile.com or by calling 4455 from a Tesco Mobile phone or 0345 301 4455 from any other UK number.
Vodafone: Customer Care team can be contacted either through dialling 191 from a Vodafone handset, or 0333 304 0191 from any other device.
Lebara: Can be contacted from a Lebara sim on 5588. From other networks call 0207 0310791 (cost depending on your operator).
Asda Mobile: Customer services can be contacted from an ASDA mobile Sim in the UK on 2732 or by calling 0808 006 2732
That’s it for this edition - thanks for reading!
I’ll be back on Sunday with another edition. In the meantime, drop me a line at calderdale@thelead.uk if you have any stories you think I should be chasing.
Until Sunday, have a great week!
Andrew