A TOWN Council has triggered a 'Town Emergency Plan' after many residents have been left with no means of communication by telephone.

Carnforth Town Council has been in touch with mobile phone providers as some Carnforth residents will be unable to access a signal until at least mid-December due to a mast being out of order in the town.

Carnforth mobile phone users are serviced by three main phone masts, one on North Road Carnforth, one in Bolton-le-Sands, and one in Over Kellet. 

The first of these is currently out of order.

All 'contract' users should be able to access a signal from the other two masts, although higher 'traffic' will result in a slower service. 

Pay-as-you-go customers will have NO signal as they are routed exclusively via the Carnforth mast.

This situation is likely to continue with a further update available on Sunday 18th December.

Carnforth Town Council has triggered its Emergency Plan in response to this situation and will post routine updates via social media and on community notice boards.

Councillor Chris Smith, the Mayor of Carnforth, has written to the mobile providers saying:

"Many residents have now been without a mobile phone signal for a week and I understand that the 'upgrade' work will continue for at least another two weeks. 

"Many vulnerable people now depend wholly on mobile phone communication and, as a consequence, the Council has taken the unusual step of triggering the Carnforth Town Emergency Plan. 

"This involves using local radio to keep people informed of progress as well as other forms of communication by the council.

"The Town Council will now step up its response to support the community but anything you can do to expedite restoration of the service would be much appreciated.

"As Town Mayor I have sought personal progress updates but I am told this is not possible, a situation that I find wholly unsatisfactory.

I would be grateful for a response so that I can reassure my community that everything is being done to help them during this very stressful time."