AFTER the BBC bowed to pressure from The Northern Echo to put thousands in line for a refund to help those worst affected by the Bilsdale mast fire - here’s when the mast might be fixed.

The Bilsdale TV mast and transmitter has been down since the beginning of this month on August 10 after black smoke could be seen billowing out from the mast.

READ MORE: Bilsdale Transmitter update: BBC to refund licence fee after residents left with no TV signal

Since then, site operators Arqiva have been working hard to bring the site back up and running and restored signal to many affected areas through the use of temporary transmitters.

However, despite this, many house and people have still been left without signal and as a result Arqiva are working to construct a temporary 80 metre mast at the Bilsdale site.

This new mast, however, has been delayed due to the “legal process” to secure access to the site taking longer for site operators than they expected.

A spokesperson for Arqiva said on August 24: “The remaining stages of our plan require access to the original mast site to deliver materials, build and commission the temporary 80-metre mast which would expand TV services to the vast majority of households.

“The legal process to secure appropriate access to the site to build the temporary mast is taking longer than we initially anticipated and as a result it will not be operational by this weekend as we’d hoped.

READ MORE: Bilsdale transmitter: How events unfolded and left thousands with no TV signal

“We are making representations to the court as to the severity and the urgency of the situation but we are in the hands of the judicial system currently.

“We continue to speak to the landowner to see if we can reach an access agreement whilst the application is being processed.

“We are doing everything we can to move this forward as quickly as possible and are seeking the assistance of everybody involved to accelerate the process.”

When will the Bilsdale transmitter be fixed?

Site operators are still unsure as to when the Bilsdale transmitter will be fixed and are still unsure as to when the 80-metre temporary mast will be constructed on the Bilsdale site.

As of the most recent update provided by site operators Arqiva, they were not able to provide an update, however, they said they are “continuing to work around the clock to find a way forward.”

The full statement from an Arqiva spokesperson said: “We continue to work through the process to enable access to the Bilsdale site to build the temporary mast. There is no specific new detail to share at this point but we are continuing to work round the clock to find a way forward.

“Meanwhile, this week has seen the successful restoration of some Freeview television services for those who receive signals from the smaller relay sites in the following areas: Grinton Lodge, Ravenscar, Aislaby, West Burton, Romaldkirk

“These relays normally receive a signal from the main Bilsdale mast (Aislaby actually takes its signal from Ravenscar) and ‘pass it on’ to the communities in the area that cannot see the main mast. 

READ MORE: Bilsdale transmitter: How to get your BBC licence fee refund

“We once again apologise that services have not been restored as quickly as we’d hoped and will provide a further update as soon as possible.”

Just this weekend it was announced that the BBC could be refunding thousands after it had bowed to pressure from The Northern Echo.

A TV Licensing spokesperson said that after the intervention by the Echo, bosses had agreed to either refund people or give them an equivalent extension to their existing TV licence if they are without signal for a month or more.

A spokesperson said: “Customers in the affected area who have been unable to receive TV coverage for over a month, and who are unable to view BBC programming through BBC iPlayer and on cable and satellite platforms, will be eligible for a refund or be offered a free extension to their TV Licence to cover the months affected.

 “We are continuing to work with our suppliers Arqiva to ensure services in the affected area are resumed as soon as possible.”

Here’s how to claim compensation if you are eligible:

  • Customers who are eligible will receive a free extension or refund – dependent on their payment plan – on their TV Licence equivalent to the time, in months, they have been unable to receive coverage
  • Customers will be able to request an extension to their licence through the TV Licensing website, or via calling TV Licensing call centre after 10th September
  • The addresses of customers who request a free TV Licence extension will be cross referenced with the postcodes which have been impacted by the coverage outage.
  • In line with our refunds policy, we are unable to issue a partial refund for a time period of less than a month.

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