Protecting vulnerable residents during digital switchover after power outages caused isolation.
Storm Darragh left Wybunbury residents without power. They could not contact anyone for three days because landlines became digital and needed electricity, and mobile phones ran out of battery.
Clowes wants to prevent this when telecare goes digital, as telecare has devices like fall detectors and pendant alarms. People use these to call for help.
Andrew Kolker supports Clowes’ motion, which urges council to support the government’s plan and includes a safety toolkit for residents. This toolkit helps prepare for outages.
The motion also asks the council to lobby the government to invest in areas with little digital access. This support helps rural residents stay in their homes longer.
The council meeting takes place on Wednesday at Tatton Park at 11 am. The mayor will likely send the motion to a committee, which is standard procedure.