Hebden Bridge Residents Left Without Mobile Signal as O2 and Vodafone Mast Removed

Dispute with Landowner Leads to Sudden Mast Removal

Thousands of residents and businesses in the picturesque market town of Hebden Bridge are facing the prospect of weak to non-existent mobile signals on O2 and Vodafone’s networks, potentially lasting into early 2026. The disruption comes after a local mobile mast was abruptly removed due to a dispute with the site’s landowner.

“I went out to walk my dog on Monday and suddenly realized I had no signal on my O2 mobile,” said Ben Thompson, a local resident. “Turns out it’s affecting Vodafone users too, but not EE customers.”

Operators Scramble to Find Replacement Site

The sudden removal of the mast, managed by Cornerstone, has left the two mobile operators hurrying to find a replacement site. A new application has been submitted to the local planning authority, but the process is unlikely to be quick and could face opposition or other hurdles before a new mast can be deployed.

“It’s completely unacceptable that thousands of people have been left without mobile service with no warning,” said Josh Fenton-Glynn, MP for the Calder Valley. “Residents and businesses are paying for a service they’re not receiving. I’ve written to the networks urging them to fix this urgently and provide compensation to customers.”

Weak Signals and Dropped Calls Plague Hebden Bridge

While O2 and Vodafone have boosted signals from other nearby sites, it’s not enough to reach all affected areas. Many residents are experiencing dropped calls, missed texts, and sluggish data speeds.

“I rely on my mobile for work, so this outage has been a huge headache,” said Sarah Davies, owner of a local graphic design firm. “I’ve had to drive 20 minutes out of town just to get a reliable signal to contact clients. It’s costing me time and money.”

Lack of Notice Frustrates Residents

One of the biggest points of frustration for locals has been the lack of advanced notice about the mast removal. Mobile operators could have informed customers beforehand but instead left them scrambling for answers.

“I pay over £50 a month for my O2 contract, and now I can barely make a call from my own home,” said Mark Wilson, a longtime Hebden Bridge resident. “The least they could have done is given us a heads up that this was happening so we could make other arrangements. It’s just poor customer service.”

Town’s Topography Compounds Challenges

Hebden Bridge’s location in a crisscrossing valley makes it difficult for mobile signals to reach every corner of the town without multiple mast sites. The sudden loss of a key mast has exacerbated coverage gaps.

“We already had patchy signal in parts of the town, and now it’s even worse,” said Lisa Patel, who runs a bed and breakfast in Hebden Bridge. “Guests are complaining they can’t get online or make calls from their rooms. It’s not a good look for a town that relies on tourism.”

Compensation and Solutions Sought

As the mobile operators work to install a new mast, affected customers are demanding compensation for the loss of service. O2 has recommended enabling Wi-Fi calling on devices to make and receive calls and texts over broadband, but this is a limited solution.

“Wi-Fi calling is fine if you’re at home, but what about when you’re out and about?” said Thompson. “We need a proper fix, and we need it soon. This outage is impacting people’s lives and livelihoods.”

MP Fenton-Glynn has vowed to keep pressing the mobile networks for a rapid resolution and fair compensation for customers. In the meantime, residents of Hebden Bridge are left grappling with the fallout of an abrupt mast removal that has left a mobile signal void in this normally bustling Yorkshire town.