Work under way to build a temporary mast which is expected to restore signals to 90% of affected.
Arqiva have confirmed that work has commenced on the temporary mast at its Bilsdale site.
A team of around 100 people began construction work at Bilsdale yesterday (Monday 13 September) with materials being transported into place and ground preparation began for the mast installation. The team are working at pace to clear the site and put foundations in place for the ground-based transmission equipment.
Once operational, the 80m-high temporary mast is expected to provide Freeview TV signals to an area covering 90% of households which were served by the existing Bilsdale mast, which was damaged by fire on 10 August 2021.
The clearance includes excavating heather after which the area will be re-seeded. Stone used on site has also had to be specially selected to ensure the right levels of acidity for the surrounding environment.
Arqiva say their priority is now on working with organisations across the affected area including local councils, housing associations and charities to reach and support those who may remain without signal following the mast build, and to prioritise the most vulnerable people affected.
Adrian Twyning, Chief of Operations at Arqiva, said:
We are working 24/7 to restore services to as many people as possible across the North-East and North Yorkshire. This is complex work, involving multiple agencies and highly skilled teams.
We are fully committed to the task at hand.
What is happening about the 10% of viewers without and date for TV restoration ? No statement is made as to when it is likely to be restored.
The building where I live in Harrogate faces East. The flat opposite mine in the building can get TV in a north facing room but not in the east room. My flat dosen’t get any, why ?
How “temporary” is temporary. Is this an excuse to take ages to dismantle the old mast & build a new one. In the meantime we have a second rate service with no HD channels or minority ones. During this hiatus is nobody addressing the “elephant in the room” & that is half of North Yorkshire cannot get Yorkshire Television !. We could briefly when Bilsdale changed from analogue to digital transmissions. ITV was Tyne Tees, ITV+1 was Yorkshire. Surely now is the time to petition our MP’s to right this wrong.