Freeview fury as Beverley area unable to watch TV
SOME CHANNELS HAVE BEEN KNOCKED OUT BY PHONE MAST WORK
FUMING East Riding residents claim they have been left unable to watch some of their favourite TV shows after phone mast upgrades knocked out and distorted their TV signal.
One Beverley resident described how certain channels, including Dave, had been lost, despite others like Dave Ja Vu reportedly still operating almost as normal after 4G upgrades and 5G installation on a mast in Grove Park.
Several residents contacted their councillor about the significant disruption, which comes at a time when many elderly people are shielding or unable to get out due to the bad weather.
In one case, it is understood that one pensioner paid out £90 to try to fix the problem despite the availability of free filters that should remedy the issue.
“We get lines of colour across the screen and a popping noise,” Grove Close resident John Brien said.
“Even on channels that do work, loud pops ‘obliterate’ the speech in a problem that is getting progressively worse.”
It is believed that a number of households who may not have reported the fault could also be experiencing problems but that the use of streaming means some may not find it such a problem. “It’s not right,” Mr Brien said. “On Sunday we were watching the old Pride and Prejudice which is five hours long and after three hours it got worse and worse as it went on.
“There’s been at least half a dozen situations in the past two months where we’ve been watching a film or a concert and towards the end it become difficult to watch. It’s flipping annoying.
“We’ve spoken to a neighbour and she’s having similar problems. I know of a family across the road with the same problem too. Mr Brien did receive a free filter after complaining, but says it is yet to have fixed the issue.
Jeff Bartholomew also suffered the same problem and took on the fight to get answers.
“There had to be a reason for the signal suddenly declining, especially as it wasn’t just at my house,” he said.
“A neighbour called out a television aerial company who charged a significant amount of money to improve the signal, but I was not prepared to do that, because I knew there had to be an explanation. “Meanwhile, friends in a half-mile radius were all experiencing similar problems.
“Nobody was warned. That’s why people should’ve been informed and we would have known what to do.”
The interference is beloved to stem from the fact that the 4G signal now being emitted from the mast is a similar frequency to the signal used by Freeview. After pressure from Mr Bartholomew and Councillor Linda Johnson, notices are being posted out this week to give more information.
“The mast was already there and they had planning permission to build it.” Cllr Johnson said.
“The side nearest the mast and the rugby club are affected. The south and west seems to be OK.
“For people who have already spent money trying to rectify the problem, the company will review what they have had done and may be able to reimburse some or all of the cost, on a case-by-case basis.”
at800 are able to provide a filter for TV sets free of charge. Anyone experiencing issues in the area affected can call 0808 1313 800.
We get lines of colour across the screen and a popping noise
John Brien
A HULL allotment tenant has said he is “devastated” that patches he and others spent hundreds of pounds on will close in April.
Arthur Ashton, a tenant on the allotment in Fountain Road, near Beverley Road, for six years, said he and others were given a year to leave ahead of its closure on April 6.
He claims they were being “chucked off” amid speculation that the allotments would be levelled to make way for a new housing development.
Alms House, the charity that runs the allotment, did not respond to a request for comment or to confirm speculation over the coming development of the site.
A notice posted at the allotment from Andrew Jackson Solicitors, acting on behalf of Hull United Charities which includes Alms House, confirmed tenants would be required to leave in April.
A spokesman for Hull City Council said it was privately run and that they had no involvement with it.
Mr Ashton said some tenants had been on the allotment for as long as six decades.
He said: “We don’t think there’s much we can do about it, but we’re absolutely devastated.
“I’ve been on there for about six or seven years. There are others who’ve had patches for 50 or 60.
“Tenants have spend hundreds of pounds and now they’re just chucking us off, but we don’t know if there’s any way around it.
“During the coronavirus lockdown it’s been great to have for exercise, without a doubt.
“I’ve been able to go on there and be away from people.
“We used to grow quite a bit of food on there and give it away to the old folks in care homes.
“We’ve heard all sorts about what be coming there, including bungalows for the homeless, but no one knows for sure.
“The problem is the charity has every right to throw us off and close because it’s their land.
“Allotments are hard to come by now, there’s been two or three that have closed in the area in the past few years.”