Residents from Skelton on Ure are calling for answers about a beloved village pub that has lain dormant for two-and-a-half years.

The Black Lion pub was bought in December 2019 by Admiral Taverns, which owns 1,600 pubs across the UK.

With no sign of a sale residents are fed up and say the owners are being “extremely vague” about their plans for the future.

The pub, which sits on Skelton Lane and is close to Newby Hall, was bought by the company as part of the acquisition of 137 pubs from Marston’s brewery.

Residents said it had begun to decline just before the deal was done, but they were hopeful the new buyer could reinvigorate the country pub and restaurant.

Sandy Delf, who has lived in the village for more than a decade, said:

“We would really like it open again. Admiral Taverns just aren’t telling us anything and the pub is in a shocking state inside and out. One of my neighbours was outside weeding around it the other day.

“I think people are tired of seeing it in the state it’s in at present. There are so many opportunities, being in the location that it is.”

‘Community asset’

Another local resident, Penn Wall, said there may be an opportunity to develop around the back on the pub where a caravan park used to be:

“There is massive potential for this pub to be a great success. We have Newby Hall [nearby] which has numerous events over the year. If the pub were developed, with perhaps cabins at the back, it could be a great money-spinner for the new owners.

“There are many people who would support the pub if it was well-managed and welcoming. It would be very sad to lose such a valuable community asset, particularly when in this case so many of us feel that there is such potential.”

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With no sign of a listing online for its resale, residents are worried that the building could fall into further disrepair.

Jane Mosley added:

“As it stands now, it is an eyesore, a blot on the landscape and falling into further disrepair as the weeks pass.

“As a temporary measure, it would help if they could cover it in a building wrap like you see on some inner city building works, or paint the windows like they do in Knaresborough – anything to detract from the way it looks now.

“I am sure the directors at Admiral Taverns wouldn’t like this on their own doorsteps. Enough is enough.”

Other villagers on the village’s Facebook page suggested the only likely buyer would be a developer looking to change its use – and some agreed this would be better than the site staying in its current state.

Admiral Taverns has not confirmed whether the site is being sold as a development opportunity or as a pub.

A spokesperson said:

“We are strong believers in the importance of community pubs and our focus is always on helping our licensees to run sustainable pub businesses. After careful consideration, however, we felt in this instance that the Black Lion did not have a long-term sustainable future and therefore we’ve taken the decision to put the pub up for sale.”

Recap the highlights from today’s first North Yorkshire County Council meeting today since the local elections on May 5.

The key points include:

• Conservative Carl Les elected council leader unopposed.
• Michael Harrison is the only councillor from the Harrogate district’s on Cllr Les’ 10-person executive.
• Female representation on the executive double from one to two out of 10.
• Calls for Harrogate Town Council to be established as soon as possible.
• Calls for sale of Ripon Spa Baths to be halted.

2pm: Meeting ends

A marathon 3.5-hour meeting ends. It was the first county council meeting since the local elections and saw a new executive team named by leader Carl Les.

The more even political composition of the council was reflected in the length of some of the debates.

1.50pm: Jubilee theme at County Hall

A copy of the Daily Mail from June 3, 1953 — the day after the Queen’s coronation — is on a royal-themed table greeting everyone at today’s meeting at County Hall, Northallerton.

1.47pm: 15 care homes have covid outbreaks

Michael Harrison, the executive member for health and adult social services, says 15 care homes in North Yorkshire have one or more covid cases. He says this has an impact on the NHS, which can’t discharge patients to these homes.

1.42pm: Motion to criticise Home Office of handling of Linton is passed

Some Conservative councillors are reluctant to vote on a motion criticising the Home Office, saying it is against procedure, or political grandstanding, But after a lengthy debate the motion is voted on and receives overwhelming support from all parties.

1.18pm: Heated debate over Linton asylum centre 

Cllr Stuart Parsons, the leader of the Independent group, proposes a vote of no confidence in the Home Office in its handling of the asylum centre at Linton-on-Ouse.

Cllr Les says he’s happy to make a statement and support Hambledon District Council’s call for a judicial review but can’t support a blanket no confidence motion on the Home Office.

Cllr Parsons says the motion purely relates to Home Office actions regarding Linton. Cllr Les agrees to support this.

Cllr Malcolm Taylor, whose division includes the former RAF site at Linton-on-Ouse that is to be converted into the centre, says Home Office representatives will be attending a parish council meeting tomorrow night and a demonstration is planned.

He says Linton has a population of 600 and the first asylum seekers are expected on May 31.

The centre will be on the edge of the Harrogate district, just a few miles from Knaresborough and Boroughbridge.

A Conservative councillor living near the site says her inbox is full of messages of concern, many from women worried about the impact of an influx of hundreds of men in the area.  She says asylum seekers need help but urges fellow councillors to “think of that little community”

There is now a vote over whether the no confidence vote should go ahead.

1.02pm: Expect more demand-led buses

Cllr Duncan is receiving plenty of transport questions and is giving an assured first performance.

He is asked whether the council’s pilot scheme testing demand-led buses, which includes Ripon and Masham, will be extended. The system is likened to Uber whereby people call for small local buses rather than rely on a timetable service.

Keane is keen. He says “this is exactly the type of approach we should be taking” as an alternative to conventional bus services. He adds demand-led buses won’t be appropriate everywhere but they could be rolled out in many areas.

12.48pm: Transport chief calls for bus alternatives

Cllr Keane Duncan says some bus routes are not viable and the council needs to look at alternatives to help people get around.

12.31pm: New transport chief Keane Duncan faces pothole questions

Ryedale councillor Keane Duncan (pictured), the youthful successor to Harrogate’s Don Mackenzie on the transport brief, is immediately asked a question on potholes by Ripon Independent Andrew Williams.

Cllr Williams invites Cllr Duncan to visit Ripon “so I can show him first had some of the pothole-ridden roads you’ve taken priority for”.

He adds he’s sure Cllr Duncan wants to make it a priority for residents to be able to drive around North Yorkshire “comfortably rather than bouncing around”.

Cllr Duncan says it’s a new council but “many issues will be the same”. He agrees to visit Ripon and is then invited by Liberal Democrat Pat Marsh to also visit Knaresborough.

12.28pm: What will happen to local assets like Knaresborough Castle?

Liberal Democrat Pat Marsh asks how parish councils will be given a voice to “retain assets they feel are theres”, such as Knaresborough Castle, when the seven district councils, including Harrogate Borough Council, are abolished next year.

Deputy leader Gareth Dadd says North Yorkshire Council could inherit 13,000 pieces of real estate when it begins life next year. He says the new council “will be open for asset transfer” and is “mindful of the benefits of community ownership” but does not commit further.

12.22pm Why do councillors have plastic bottles?

Bryn Griffiths, the Liberal Democrat councillor for Stokesley, asks why he can see so many single use plastic bottles in the chamber.

Cllr Greg White replies that he can’t give an answer but will look into it.

Cllr Griffiths then asks if removing single use plastics is a council commitment.

Cllr White says, to cheers, it will happen “as soon as we possibly can”.

12.13pm: Ouseburn councillor says council gives ‘lip service’ to environment

Arnold Warneken (pictured), the first Green Party candidate elected from the Harrogate district, suggests in his first meeting that the council only pays lip service to the environment.

He says the body language from fellow councillors when he raises tree-planting initiatives is ‘oh, not another hugger’

He says the environment is regarded as “a tag on” and protecting the planet is far more important.

Greg White, the executive member in charge of climate change, replies that every report to committees will include climate impact assessments and Cllr Warneken will have the opportunity to question them.

12.01pm: The new top table

This picture shows the new 10-person executive sitting around the top table, below chair Margaret Atkinson. Michael Harrison, on the far right, is the only Harrogate district councillor selected by leader Carl Les.

11.46am: No public questions

We are now up to the ‘public questions’ item on the agenda. But none were submitted: hardly a glowing endorsement of the state of local democracy.

11.33am: Female representation on executive doubles — to two

Janet Sanderson

Annabel Wilkinson

The number of female councillors on the 10-person executive has doubled — to two.

Bedale councillor Annabel Wilkinson is given the education brief previously held by Patrick Mulligan. Thornton Dale councillor Janet Sanderson, retains the children’s services role.

11.30am: Chamber packed for Carl Les’ coronation

It seems that all 90 newly elected councillors are here. Remember, the Conservatives got 47 councillors elected, giving them a slim majority of four, which is why the new council is led by a Conservative and a 10-person executive includes only Conservatives.

11.25am: Call for sale of Ripon Spa Baths to be halted

Andrew Williams (pictured), the leader of Ripon City Council who was elected to the county council as an Independent two weeks ago, calls for soon-to-be-abolished Harrogate Borough Council to be prevented from proceeding with the sale of Ripon Spa Baths. He says it should be retained as a community asset.

Council leader Les says “I will take legal advice on this”, adding warm words but no commitment. He says:

“We are not going to be awkward. If it’s a sensible thing being proposed we will want to support it. I will have to look into Ripon Baths”

11.23am: Harrogate district only gets one councillor on 10-person executive

Michael Harrison is the only councillor from the Harrogate district chosen by leader Carl Les on his 10-person executive, which raises questions about how strongly the district’s voice will be heard on the county council.

11.18am: Call to create Harrogate Town Council

Liberal Democrat Pat Marsh, who was elected to represent the Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone division on May 5, calls for an assurance that “as soon as possible, within the next couple of months” the process to create town councils for Harrogate and Scarborough begins.

Council leader Carl Les says he will check the legal position and “If it’s in our gift, I think the process should start immediately”.

11.15am Keane Duncan succeeds Don Mackenzie

Harrogate’s Don Mackenzie (pictured) did not seek re-election on May 5. He is replaced by Keane Duncan, a journalist who lives in Malton.

Cllr Duncan’s portfolio has changed slightly — he will still oversee transport, as did Cllr Mackenzie, but the brief no longer includes broadband.

11.10am Harrogate district’s Michael Harrison retains health and adult services brief

Michael Harrison has been named executive member for health and adult services. Cllr Harrison, who lives in Killinghall Moor, held the brief before the last election.

He was elected to the division of Killinghall, Hampsthwaite and Saltergate two weeks ago.

11.04am: Carl Les elected leader unopposed

As expected, Conservative Carl Les is elected as leader of the county council and its successor North Yorkshire Council until May 2027.

11.02am: Margaret Atkinson gives acceptance speech

New chairman Margaret Atkinson says she is a “tough cookie” who won’t stand for any nonsense.

10.58am: Will female representation increase?

It could hardly get much worse. the previous 10-person executive included just one woman. This was Cllr Les’ previous top team.

• Carl Les, leader of the council,
• Gareth Dadd, deputy leader and executive member for finance
• Don Mackenzie, executive member for access (highways)
• Patrick Mulligan, executive member for education
• Michael Harrison, executive member for health and adult services
• Derek Bastiman, executive member for open to business
• Andrew Lee, executive member for public health
• David Chance, executive member for stronger communities
• Janet Sanderson, executive member for children’s services
• Greg White, executive member for climate change and customer engagement

10.50am: Kirkby Malzeard’s Margaret Atkinson elected chair

Conservative Margaret Atkinson (pictured), who was elected to represent Masham and Fountains two weeks ago, is elected chair of North Yorkshire County Council. Cllr Atkinson lives in Kirkby Malzeard and is a long-serving county and district councillor.

A group of five Independents has vowed to stand in future elections after they failed to win a seat on the new North Yorkshire Council.

Anna McIntee (Stray, Woodlands, Hookstone), Lucy Gardiner (Valley Gardens & Central Harrogate), Sarah Hart (Harlow Hill and St Georges) Daniel Thompson (Coppice Valley and Duchy) and Jon Starkey (Boroughbridge & Claro) all stood for the election on May 5.

Using the motto ‘Time for a Change’ and sporting pink uniforms, they pledged to put a stop to housebuilding in the area and oppose transport schemes like the Harrogate Station Gateway.

In the end, the district’s electorate voted for change, but it was the more familiar yellow of the Liberal Democrats that they chose.

But during their concession speeches at the election count, Ms Hart, Mr Thompson and Ms Gardiner all suggested they’d stand again in future elections, with a potential Harrogate Town Council on the horizon.

‘Same old faces’

It was a disappointing set of results for the Independents, in contrast to the strong showing by Independents in Ripon.

Over the past couple of years, thousands of people signed petitions set up by Anna McIntee and Lucy Gardiner to oppose the Oatlands Drive one way scheme and the Beech Grove Low Traffic Neighbourhood.

However, they weren’t able to translate successful petitions into votes.

Ms McIntee came fourth in her division with 167 ticks next to her name.

Ms Gardiner and Ms Hart fared better, receiving over 300 votes each, but they didn’t come close to beating the victorious Tory and Lib Dem councillors they were up against.

The five candidates met for a debrief last week where they reflected on the campaign.

Ms Gardiner said they were disappointed to see “the same old faces and old ideas being returned for another five years”.

She said:

“We were not just paper candidates but true representatives of the community, sharing many of the main issues as the residents and businesses, too many houses, no proper infrastructure, increase in congestion with no realistic solutions, pocket planning, all the wasted money on vanity projects, to name a few.

“It is disappointing that we didn’t get the majority and it was a shame there wasn’t an Independent candidate for every seat. However, considering we had no party machine behind us and none of us had ever stood before, we didn’t do too badly.”

Mr Starkey said he was disappointed by the low turnout.

“An average of only 36% voted and many still voted for the ‘party’ rather than the ‘person’, so we have to ask ourselves why?
Is the thought process ‘let’s give them another chance’, ‘I’ve always voted the same’, ‘it’s time for change’, or ‘what’s the point?’”

Read more:

• What cost the Tories votes in the Harrogate district?
• Stunning Green win in Ouseburn sets blueprint for future collaborations

Upsets

Before the election, it was difficult to predict who would vote for the ‘Time for a Change’ five.

Would it be disgruntled Conservative voters? Or people who don’t usually vote but who were attracted to their anti-establishment message?

The Conservatives failed to win three of the five seats where the independents stood.

These included the current deputy leader of Harrogate Borough Council, Cllr Graham Swift. He came a close second in the Coppice Valley and Duchy division, in a big upset for the Lib Dems.

Daniel Thompson came third and suggested his 199 votes helped to deny Cllr Swift the win.

Ms Gardiner said they succeeded in part of their aim of getting “the wrong people out”.

She said:

“We may not have succeeded by getting in but we certainly opened up the conversation and put the cat amongst the pigeons seeing a few key Conservatives in ‘safe’ seats voted out.”

Mr Thompson added:

“The Conservatives have been in power for years and their only legacy is a shambolic local plan favouring the pockets of the national house builders, pocket planning with multi million pound cycling lanes going nowhere and the (reported) £17 million vanity project that is the Civic Centre.”

Local issues

Following the abolition of HBC next year, it’s expected that a Harrogate town council will be set up to potentially manage local assets such as the Stray and Harrogate Convention Centre.

Elections could take place in 2024, and Ms Gardiner said the independents want to ensure Harrogate has a strong “community” voice, free from the shackles of party politics.

She said:

“Our efforts weren’t in vain, the independents aren’t going anywhere and we will strive to ensure Harrogate and Knaresborough doesn’t get swallowed up by the new North Yorkshire Council.

“We must not be led by politics, we must be led by the community and have a town council with the right people at the helm.”

A Conservative-led council has voiced fury after the Home Office announced it had moved forward plans to open a centre for asylum seekers on the edge of the Harrogate district.

A meeting of Hambleton District Council heard claims the Home Office had treated the residents of Linton-on-Ouse and the surrounding area with “complete contempt” by revealing that 60 people would be arriving at the centre in the isolated village from May 31, weeks earlier than it previously stated.

The centre will be just 10 miles from Boroughbridge and 13 miles from Knaresborough, and on the doorstep of Harrogate district villages such as Nun Monkton, Great Ouseburn and Green Hammerton.

Ministers have insisted the centre, at a former RAF training base, will “provide safe and self-sufficient accommodation”.

They say the centre, where Prince William trained as a pilot, will help end the Home Office’s reliance on expensive hotels, which are costing the taxpayer £4.7million a day.

The authority’s leader, Cllr Mark Robson, said during a meeting with the police and crime commissioner, Thirsk and Malton MP Kevin Hollinrake that the Home Office’s announcement had come as “a bit of a bombshell”.

He said:

“What we were told four to six weeks just before Easter has suddenly become two weeks time.

“I’m in no doubt about how much worry and concern there is in the local community and the surrounding areas about this proposal from government.”

He said the authority was working to get answers about the situation as quickly as it could. Cllr Robson the authority had appointed a legal team and was anticipating receiving advice imminently.

Read more:

• Ouseburn councillor: ‘pause thoughtless Linton asylum centre’

• Village on fringes of Harrogate district to house asylum seekers

The council leader said elected members and officers had been “in constant and robust dialogue” with the Home Office, and that the council was expecting a response to the council’s concerns later this week.

Cllr Robson said:

“We have, in the strongest possible terms, asked that the Home Office pause this proposal immediately to allow for consultation to be carried out and are awaiting the response to this ask.

“Officers and members continue to take part in multi-agency meetings and support and work closely with the local community and surrounding areas. Although frustrating and concerning, it is very important that what we do now doesn’t prejudice any outcome from the legal process.”

‘Goalposts have changes again’

Linton-on-Ouse Cllr Malcolm Taylor said while the community was looking for answers, there was now a “very tight window of opportunity” to take action. He said:

“The goalposts have been changed yet again by the Home Office and I think it is absolutely regrettable and disgraceful the way this Home Office has treated the residents not just of Linton-on-Ouse but the wider community and this council and everybody who is an interested party in this. We need to get answers and we need to get them very quickly.”

Local member Cllr Nigel Knapton added:

“They are playing games with us and it is absolutely disgraceful.”

Police have arrested three men after reports of a trailer theft from a compound near Boroughbridge.

Officers from North Yorkshire Police were called at 9.20pm last night after suspects were seen breaking into the compound and making off with the trailer.

The force used number plate recognition to locate the Land Rover Discovery off the A1(M).

The car was stopped by police off junction 45 after it attempted to make a U-turn.

A North Yorkshire Police statement said:

“Security cameras at the premises picked up a partial registration number of the vehicle, a Land Rover Discovery, and within minutes it was located by police on the A1(M) heading south. The Land Rover began to make a u-turn in the carriageway, but officers quickly managed to bring it to a stop just after junction 45.

“Three occupants, all men in their 30s, were arrested at the scene, on suspicion of theft, dangerous driving, and failing to stop for police. They remain in custody at this time. The trailer will be returned to its rightful owner.”

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Harrogate Borough Council has given a total of £37,000 to 46 different community groups to fund events and legacy projects for the Queen’s platinum jubilee.

The four-day weekend from June 2 to 5 will be marked by numerous events across the district.

The money issued by the council has helped to hold events in towns and villages such as Ripon, Skelton-Cum-Newby, Little Ouseburn and Bishop Monkton.

Organisers of Bishop Monkton’s platinum jubilee celebrations said the money has helped them expand on their initial plans:

“We are now able to make two films – one using archive footage and interviews with long-standing residents and a film of this year’s celebrations in the village.

“In addition, the grant is enabling a time capsule project involving Bishop Monkton Primary School where everyday objects from 2022 chosen by school pupils will be buried near the village hall for future generations to discover.”

In Skelton-cum-Newby, the parish council said the grant will enable its celebrations to be “truly memorable”:

“We are now able to engage a professional artist to supply music on the day and have ordered commemorative mugs for all our children in the village to mark a reign which will most likely never be repeated again.”

Read more:

• Harrogate district raises flags for jubilee celebrations
• Timetable of Platinum Jubilee celebrations in Valley Gardens

Councillor Richard Cooper, leader of Harrogate Borough Council, said:

 “Her Majesty The Queen is the first British monarch to celebrate a platinum jubilee and it is therefore only right we recognise this momentous event in such a way.

“I’m sure that the residents – young and old – who are involved in the festivities of these 46 community groups will remember this event for many, many years to come.

“And of course, there are events happening all across the district. Not least, a four-day event across Harrogate town centre that will truly bring the community and visitors to our wonderful town together.”

Harrogate Borough Council is to have its biggest powers stripped away next week, some 10 months before it is abolished.

All seven district and borough councils in North Yorkshire are affected by the move, which has been introduced by the UK government.

Political commentators claim it aims to prevent controversial spending, particularly of councils’ reserves.

It means any major financial decisions by Harrogate Borough Council will need to be approved by North Yorkshire County Council‘s executive.

This could have implications on Harrogate Borough Council’s plans to spend £47m redeveloping Harrogate Convention Centre.

The action follows concerns that district councils could propose large-scale schemes to ensure at least some of the money left in their coffers is spent in their areas, rather than added to general North Yorkshire funds from April 1 next year.

The seven district councils will continue to operate and make decisions until they are replaced by North Yorkshire Council.

Michal Gove intervenes

But Michael Gove, the secretary of state for levelling up, has issued a direction which gives the county council’s decision-making committee the power from Monday to veto any relevant financial decision which could bind the new authority in a potentially unfavourable way.

The direction will restrict district councils from entering into revenue contracts and disposals of land over £100,000 or capital contracts exceeding £1m without the executive’s consent.

An officers’ report to the executive states the sanctions for any council not complying with the direction and consent regime would be “severe”.

It adds councils face legal action if they enter into any contracts without the required consent and any transfers of land will be void.

Read more:

• Ripon MP Julian Smith urges PM not to override Brexit deal
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To avert “a large and unmanageable number of decisions” being put before the executive and to ensure a continuance of business in all the councils until the unitary authority is launched next May, the district councils will be handed a list of lower-scale decisions they can approve without seeking consent.

Implications for future

The requirement for seeking permission as a result of the direction will only apply to the district and borough councils.

Councillor Gareth Dadd, who looks set to be reappointed as the county council’s deputy leader and finance chief later this week, said the move would help all the district councils pull in the same direction ahead of the unitary authority’s formation:

“I’m sure colleagues in the districts will be very sensible in any event, but this order by the Secretary of State recognises the democratic mandate given to all those new members on the new unitary authority and North Yorkshire County Council.

“It is those, as a collective body, that has to deal with the decisions which could have serious implications in the future.”

Harrogate Borough Council has been approached for comment.

Artists, sculptors and ceramicists at Harrogate College are preparing to stage their first North Yorkshire Open Studios event.

The artists, who are studying for master’s degrees in creative practice, will showcase their work on June 4. Visitors will be able to view and buy items.

North Yorkshire Open Studios gives artists the chance to open their studios, network, and show and sell their work directly to the public over the first two weekends in June.

The artist-led event is run by a voluntary steering group of North Yorkshire based artists.

Dr Annabel Smith, programme manager, MA creative practice at Harrogate College said the event would give many college students the opportunity to showcase their work, adding:

“The NYOS event has grown to become one of the major events in North Yorkshire’s cultural calendar, as well as one of the north’s most prestigious open studios events.

“The college is honoured to be included this year and is highlighting and showcasing work produced by our year 1 and year 2 MA creative practice students.”

The exhibited work will include ceramics, paintings, printmaking and textiles and will be on view to the public in the college’s canteen.

The show takes place at the college, at Hornbeam Park, from 9am to 5pm.

Read more:

• New group launches for Harrogate women with menopause
• Why are film crews flocking to the Harrogate district?

A car flipped on to its roof when it swerved to avoid a deer on the A1 near Boroughbridge in the early hours of the morning.

According to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, the vehicle left the road and one person was stuck inside.

Its incident log says firefighters used “stabilisation and extrication gear” to free the trapped person.

Harrogate fire station said this morning that one female was out of the vehicle when firefighters arrived and another female was trapped inside. Both are believed to be unharmed after the second female was freed.

The incident, which occurred at about 2.30am, was one of two serious traffic accidents logged in the Harrogate district last night.

At 9.40pm, Ripon firefighters were called when a car collided with a house on Kingston Avenue in the city.

The incident log says:

“No people were trapped, one male occupant of car was treated for a minor ankle injury by paramedics.

“Crews assisted ambulance and police at the scene and gave advice.”

Read more:

• Sid Hawke to be Ripon’s next mayor
• Parents describe ‘chaotic’ morning after Boroughbridge school bus cut

A new 314-metre mast at Bilsdale remains on track to be completed by the end of the year, the company behind the plan has said.

Arqiva chief executive Paul Donovan said the firm was striving to halve the time normally taken to replace such a towering structure on one of the country’s most environmentally sensitive sites at Bilsdale on the North York Moors.

The mast provides television and radio coverage to areas in the Harrogate district, such as Ripon.

Mr Donovan was speaking at North Yorkshire-based firm Severfield’s expansive plant at Dalton Airfield Industrial Estate, near Thirsk, as it was announced the steel firm had won the contract, thought to be worth tens of millions of pounds, to fabricate the 200-tonne structure.

Arqiva is expecting the final of five investigations, from the firm’s insurance company, into the cause of the fire which destroyed the previous mast in August last year to be completed in the next two weeks.

Mr Donovan said: 

“That I’m sure will be of great interest to everybody. It’s been a source of frustration for us that it has taken so long, but we had to have due process around something as significant as this.”

Read more:

• Fraudsters offering £200 to fix TVs following Bilsdale fire
• Bilsdale: charity given £50,000 to help vulnerable get TV signal

Severfield, which has previously worked on large-scale projects such as the London Olympic Stadium and the London Shard, said it had been handed “tight timescales” to produce the structure in order that viewers across Yorkshire and the North-East get a full restoration of signals as soon as possible.

The coming months will see the steel fabricated by Severfield, before going away to galvanised and being turned into flat pack-style units and taken to Bilsdale for it to be reassembled in a modular way.

Mr Donovan said: 

“I’m very satisfied with the progress we are making on what will ultimately be one of Britain’s top 10 tallest structures at 314m-high, weighing 200 tonnes with lots of very complex electronics and other equipment which needs to be installed upon it.

“At the moment it is on track, but as with all things it is weather dependent, as you can only work at height when the wind is below a certain velocity, so we’re hoping for a good summer.

“Everybody has really pulled the stops out to ensure their normal delivery timeframes get shrunk without any compromise to quality. We all realise the importance to people of getting this project finished so we can have service fully restored to what it was before.”

Different design

When asked if the new structure had been designed to avert a repeat of the catastrophic incident which irreversibly damaged the previous mast, Mr Donovan replied: 

“It’s too early to be definitive about that, but if you look at this structure it’s a fundamentally different design.

“The previous mast was a cylindrical structure, but the new mast will be a lattice-based structure which actually has some benefits in its ability to tolerate wind, but also if there were any fire on a lattice-based structure it is potentially less vulnerable to the kind of catastrophic outcomes we saw before.

“The previous tower was 50 years old and technology, construction and aerodynamics have all moved forward tremendously during that time.”

Over the coming months the firm will have to report to both Ofcom and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport about its overall response.

Mr Donovan said: 

“We have responded many ways in an exemplary way, going way beyond the contractual requirements we have with our customers. 

“In terms of processes there are things which we now know we would do better, but there isn’t anything I have seen so far that would have prevented what happened.”