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Sept 2021

Last Updated: 09/09/2021

Community

Bilsdale fire: channels restored to Harrogate district — but problems remain

by Suzannah Rogerson

| 09 Sept, 2021

A new temporary mast at Sutton Bank is providing Freeview TV signals to around 100,000 households — including Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon and Masham. But some residents say they are still experiencing problems.

Fire crews were called to Bilsdale mast near Helmsley yesterday afternoon after reports of smoke coming from the area.

The company that owns the Bilsdale mast has said TV signals have been restored to people in the Harrogate district — but some residents have told the Stray Ferret they are still missing some channels.

Arqiva said yesterday it had put up a temporary mast at Sutton Bank in Hambleton and it was providing Freeview TV signals to around 100,000 households — including some in Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon and Masham.

But a number of district residents told the Stray Ferret this morning that retuning their TVs had brought back some channels but not all.

Many people have been unable to watch TV since the Bilsdale mast caught fire nearly a month ago.

Siobhan McKenna, from Harrogate, said:

"I retune every day and have received some more channels back ITV comes on but every now and them pixels appear. At this point I will put up with that."

Paul Donovan, chief executive of Arqiva, has said television signals should be restored in a little over three weeks, said yesterday:

“This morning Freeview television services were restored for over 100,000 more homes in the region.

“However, this is a complex task and there is clearly a lot more to do, so we are working with our partners as quickly and safely as possible. I would like to extend a special thank you to all those people who have been supporting friends and neighbours who may not have access to the internet or other sources of information and entertainment. We will prioritise the most vulnerable people affected."

‘Why is it taking so long?’: Harrogate residents anger over ongoing TV blackout

Temporary Bilsdale transmitter replacement ‘could take months’

A spokesperson from Freeview said:

"The new Sutton Bank transmitter serves households across North York, Harrogate, Pickering, Ripon, Masham, and Leyburn.

"If you are in one of these areas please try retuning your TV to make sure your channel list is up to date.

"If you know anyone that might be affected but doesn’t have internet, we also have an automated freephone number, on 0800 121 4828, which will take callers through all the latest news and the viewing options available to them."

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Bilsdale fire: channels restored to Harrogate district — but problems remain

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