Bilsdale mast ‘on track to be completed this year’

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.”

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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.”

85-year-old Hampsthwaite man given no refund after weeks without TV

An 85-year-old man has been left waiting for a refund on his TV licence after going without signal for six weeks due to the Bilsdale mast fire.

Gordon Hepworth lives alone in Hampsthwaite. His daughter, Tracey Hepworth, said living alone and being hard of hearing has left him isolated, especially during the pandemic.

When the Bilsdale mast caught fire in August Mr Hepworth lost TV signal for six weeks and was without subtitles for a further two.

She said watching TV in the evening was “company” for him and losing that for six weeks was difficult.

Tracey Hepworth said:

“In the evening, when he can’t go out in the dark, the TV is his company. He can’t listen to the radio without having it on incredibly loud and disrupting the neighbours so he’s very reliant on the TV.”

Ms Hepworth said TV Licensing initially told residents those who had been without signal for one month were eligible for a refund but later read this was increased to two months.

Ms Hepworth said this was “very, very naughty” because a temporary mast was installed six weeks after the fire in August meaning most people’s TVs worked again.

“I feel really sorry for people who went without for six weeks and now they’re getting nothing back.

“My dad was also late paying one month and he was sent a letter threatening to take him to court even though he was without for six weeks and still paid, it’s really unfair.”

She said she’d applied for a refund on September 10 and was yet to get a response despite making several attempts.

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TV Licensing insisted there was no change to the guidance and anyone without signal for a month or more could still apply for a refund. A spokesperson said:

“We continue to assist customers to claim refunds or licence extensions, and around 9,000 households have already done so. If a household has been unable to receive TV coverage for a month or more, and are also unable to view BBC programming through BBC iPlayer, and satellite and cable platforms, they will be able to claim a refund.”

Bilsdale: £50 vouchers for 16,000 homes still without TV

A voucher scheme has been launched to help people still without TV signal following the fire at the Bilsdale mast in August.

A new, temporary mast was put up last week but the company responsible, Arqiva, has said 16,000 homes are still in “not-spots” with poor or no TV signal.

The company said it had sent letters to those affected offering £50 Currys vouchers to buy TV streaming devices, such as the Roku Express HD Streaming Media Player or the Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite.

This would enable them to receive channels like BBC and ITV once again.

These types of devices require Wifi and broadband so may not be suitable for everyone. Arqiva has asked householders not suited to these devices to call on 0800 121 4828 to discuss other options.

The scheme is part of Project Restore set up by Arqiva to help those affected by the loss of TV signal.

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Shuja Khan, chief commercial officer at Arqiva, said:

“Although the temporary mast at Bilsdale has restored TV services to the large majority of households in the region, we know there are still those either with no or partial signal.

“We continue to work round the clock to fill the gaps in coverage with additional towers.”

The Bilsdale transmitter caught fire in August. A temporary mast, which was switched on last week, restored signal to 95% of homes across North Yorkshire and the north-east, according to Arqiva.

Bilsdale: charity given £50,000 to help vulnerable get TV signal

A charity which covers the Harrogate district is set to receive £50,000 to support people as television coverage is restored following the Bilsdale fire.

The transmitter has been out of service since August and left thousands in the district without television and radio signal.

Next week, an 80-metre temporary mast is set to be built which Arqiva, operator of Bilsdale, promises will restore 95% of coverage.

Ahead of the restoration, Paul Donovan, chief executive of the company, has announced Two Ridings Community Foundation will receive £50,000 to help support the over-65s and vulnerable people with their televisions after the swtich-on.

It will also be used to “support work on digital inclusion and social isolation”. County Durham Community Foundation has been allocated the same amount of funding.

Mr Donovan said:

“It was extremely helpful to have the support and input of our partners and stakeholders across the area as we work to fix this together. 

“Arqiva is absolutely committed to restoring services to those who are affected as quickly as possible, and to supporting the most vulnerable people as a priority.”

As part of the restoration on October 5, Arqiva will also have a helpline staffed by 75 people to help those who may still be without coverage despite the temporary mast being in place.

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Andrew Jones, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, held a call with the company yesterday to hear an update on the transmitter.

He said on a local conservative run website:

“It is important that work proceeds on the temporary mast at pace as I know that several vulnerable constituents are without their main source of companionship and information.”

Last week, Arqiva confirmed the first of more than 200 air lifts of materials to the site of the 80-metre temporary transmitter had taken place.

It said 100 staff are currently on the Bilsdale moor site as part of the project.

However, Arqiva bosses warned that television services will be disrupted the day before the transmitter is switched on due to checks on the mast.

Bilsdale: more disruption before TV signal returns on October 5

Bilsdale mast owner Arqiva has warned of further disruption to TVs on October 4 before signals return to 90 per cent of households the following day.

In an update today, Arqiva said the first of over 200 air lifts of materials to the site of the 80-metre temporary transmitter had taken place, including huge concrete blocks to anchor it down.

But it added that other temporary sites that have restored signals to some areas would need to be switched off to test the transmitter.

Adrian Twyning, chief of 0perations at Arqiva, said:

“This is a huge logistical effort involving over 100 people and, subject to bad weather or any other unforeseen difficulties, we are making good progress towards completing the works on Tuesday 5th October.

“The 80m temporary mast more closely matches the coverage pattern of the existing mast than the temporary sites we have built at Eston Nab, Arncliffe Wood and Sutton Bank.

“Properly checking the 80m temporary mast requires us to turn off those other temporary sites for a period the day before, Monday 4th October. That means some households will see disruption to their service on that day, for which we apologise in advance.”

Some homes will have been without TV for almost two months by October 5.

The fire at the Bilsdale transmitter near Helmsley on August 10 caused about 500,000 homes in the north-east, including many in the Harrogate district, to lose their TV and radio signal.

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People without Freeview TV coverage for more than a month can apply for a partial refund or an extension to their TV licence.

But applications are only valid if you have been unable to access BBC iPlayer or any live TV in any other way, including via cable, satellite and online streaming services.

Fraudsters offering £200 to fix TVs following Bilsdale fire

Fraudsters are offering to retune residents’ TVs for £200 in the wake of the Bilsdale mast fire.

Since fire damaged the mast in August, thousands of residents across the Harrogate district have been without a TV signal. Some have also experienced intermittent service.

This has prompted some opportunistic scammers to knock on doors in North Yorkshire and offer to fix TVs for a fee.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said:

“If anyone knocks on your door to offer this service, do not let them into your home and do not give them any money.

“If anyone approaches you at your home and you are concerned, do not let them in and call the police on 101 to report this.”

Arqiva, has said a temporary mast should be up by October 5, meaning local residents should finally see an improvement to their TV signal.

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TV signal in Harrogate district could return early October

TV signal could return by next month as works on the Bilsdale replacement mast are set to be complete by October 5, says telecommunications company Arqiva.

The temporary mast is replacing the Bilsdale mast after it was damaged in a fire in August.

Since then residents across the Harrogate district have been without TV signal or had a reduced channel list. Some have also experienced channels come and go.

But now Arqiva has told residents the temporary mast should be complete by October 5, three weeks after work began.

The temporary mast will be 80 metres high and provides Freeview TV signals to 90% of homes which were covered the Bilsdale mast. It has been built in a quarry near to the original mast.

Adrian Twyning, chief of operations at Arqiva, said:

“Our team is working tirelessly to deliver our recovery plan at Bilsdale, and to date we have been able to return a signal to upwards of 500,000 households using existing and temporary infrastructure around the area usually served by the Bilsdale mast.

“Due to the nature of the site, the build is heavily reliant on helicopter operations and working at height, which makes it weather dependent, but is expected to take 21 days to complete.”

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Improvement expected for Ripon TV viewers after transmitter fire

The operator of Bilsdale transmitter has said it anticipates “significant improvement” to television coverage in Masham and Ripon.

Fire crews were called to the mast last week after reports of smoke was reported coming from the area.

The loss of the transmitter is affecting parts of Harrogate, Boroughbridge, Kirkby Malzeard, Knaresborough, Masham, Pateley Bridge, Ripon and other locations that rely on a signal that serves the Tyne Tees region.

An update issued by the mast operator, Arqiva, last night said that it now expected to be able to give better television coverage to Masham and Ripon.

It said a 15m mast was planned for Arncliffe Wood as part of the response to the fire. However, wider coverage is not expected to return until August 28.

A statement from Arqiva said:

“As per our previous update, we now expect to have completed the improvement of TV coverage from Eston Nab, and also the installation of a further 15m mast at a site in Arncliffe Wood by the weekend.

“These two developments should deliver a significant improvement in TV coverage for viewers in the areas including Darlington, Stockton, Catterick, Leyburn, Masham and Ripon. We will update viewers on any action they need to take with further updates later this week.

“Work on phase 2 of the recovery plan continues. We still anticipate the temporary mast to be effective by 28 August.”

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Meanwhile, Freeview has issued advice to TV viewers who continue to have problems with their coverage.

It includes using online streaming, such as BBC iPlayer and ITV Hub, and on-demand services.

Freeview said repositioning aerials to pick up service from another transmitter was an option. But the company added that an accredited installer should be employed to carry out the work.

It said:

“Repositioning your aerial so that it takes a signal from a different transmitter may be an option for some viewers who wish to attempt to get some signal back in the short term.

“However, there’s no guarantee that another transmitter is available (reception is highly dependent on several factors such as local geography between you and the transmitter), and the signal quality might be variable.

“If you choose to have your aerial repositioned and pay for an installer to do this, you may wish to then have it repositioned again when service from Bilsdale is restored.

“If you wish to have your aerial repositioned, please do not attempt this yourself.”