News

Bilsdale Mast and lack of TV services – update

Council has received the following issued by North Yorkshire County Council.  Further information is available here Arqiva – Bilsdale Mast – Stakeholder Pack.

Information from NYCC:

Many residents in Yorkshire have been unable to watch TV since August.  North Yorkshire County Council has been pushing Arqiva, the owner and operator of the mast at Bilsdale, to restart TV transmissions as soon as possible, to improve their communications with residents, to provide additional help to vulnerable people, and to provide a suitable alternative where the normal TV signal cannot be restored in the short term.

Arqiva has confirmed that the new 80-metre temporary TV transmitter mast at Bilsdale has been switched on.  This should restore TV services to approximately 95% of households.

Arqiva has advised that this means that viewers will now need to retune their TVs and a guide on how to do this can be found at http://www.bilsdalemast.co.uk/retune-instructions.

Arqiva is aware that the some households (about 5%) still won’t be able to receive a TV signal.  Arqiva has set up a Help and Support Scheme for everyone affected.  This will initially prioritise people over 65, the clinically vulnerable, and other vulnerable people with carers.  People in these priority groups are encouraged to contact the Bilsdale Project Restore Support Line on Freephone number 0800 121 4828.  Engineers will be scheduled to visit people who need help retuning TVs or having an aerial repointed.  Residents, or people caring for someone in an affected area, can also fill out the Helpline Form at www.bilsdalemast.co.uk to request assistance.

Households in the “not-spot” areas where services aren’t restored by the switch on will receive a voucher which can be redeemed in store or online.  This will be included in a letter which will be sent by Arqiva to residents in due course.  The value covers the cost of an alternative fix from a range of products providing ways to receive free to air TV.

Attached is a set of maps (by parliamentary constituency and local authority) that show the areas that are potentially unable to receive a TV signal.  Also attached is a stakeholder toolkit produced by Arqiva.

Arqiva is seeking to communicate directly with residents, but has asked that we and other partners help by sharing the key messages.  Please will you also share the information and key messages through your networks:

  • Most people will now be able to receive TV but will need to retune their TVs and a guide on how to do this can be found at http://www.bilsdalemast.co.uk/retune-instructions.
  • Arqiva has set up a Help and Support Scheme for everyone affected.  This will initially prioritise people over 65, the clinically vulnerable, and other vulnerable people with carers.  People in these priority groups are encouraged to contact the Bilsdale Project Restore Support Line on Freephone number 0800 121 4828.  Engineers will be scheduled to visit people who need help retuning TVs or having an aerial repointed.  Residents, or people caring for someone in an affected area, can also fill out the Helpline Form at www.bilsdalemast.co.uk to request assistance.
  • Households in the “not-spot” areas where services aren’t restored by the switch on will receive a voucher which can be redeemed in store or online.  This will be included in a letter which will be sent by Arqiva to residents in due course.  The value covers the cost of an alternative fix from a range of products providing ways to receive free to air TV.