SITE operators of the Bilsdale TV mast and other organisations need to learn their lesson and review their plans to avoid similar mast failures, an review into the fire has found.
Ofcom, regulator for TV, radio and video services, carried out an incident review into the fire at the Bilsdale mast in August last year that saw hundreds of thousands without signal.
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The review found that although Arqiva responded “quickly” with plans to build temporary transmitters to restore coverage, there were delays in getting them up and running.
In particular, the report found that there were delays to the mast being constructed on the Bilsdale site due to site access, planning and technical problems.
The report recognises that although some of those arose due to the sites location within a National Park and a Site of Special Scientific Interest, site-specific planning could have negated the impact.
It said: “Having site-specific plans in place would have helped Arqiva to anticipate the problems and may have led to a swifter establishment of the temporary equipment at the site."
Information provided to affected viewers and listeners was also, initially, too “general” the report found and there were delays in providing appropriate targeted support for affected households, which the report concludes “could have been avoided.”
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Ofcom called on all organisations delivering broadcasting services to carry out “their own internal reviews” to “ensure” that lessons are learned from the fire at Bilsdale.
The adequacy of their plans to recover services as well as those in place to support and communicate with affected viewers should also be considered as part of the reviews.
Paul Donovan, chief executive of Ariqva, said he welcomed the report and will “work with broadcasters to act on its recommendations.”
He added: “The key recommendations are aligned with the work we have been undertaking since the incident.
“We have also already implemented a range of measures to enhance our fire mitigation, fire protection and disaster recovery procedures and capabilities.
“We will continue to review these areas as we work with the broadcasters to implement the recommendations from Ofcom.”
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The news comes after the infrastructure company announced it had signed a multi-million pound contract to construct a new 300m tall, permanent mast at Bilsdale - set to be completed by the end of the year – to Severfield plc.
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