Television antenna removed with 130-ton crane
GUERNSEY’S obsolete television antenna has been safely removed, using a 70-metre crane which was ferried over from the UK.
The recognisable white tube atop the Les Touillets antenna was carefully lifted down at about 11am yesterday.
Temporary transmitters have been put in place while the new equipment is installed.
The work is part of a project to free up the airwaves for 5G.
Arqiva antenna engineer Jim Armstrong said improvement work had already been done on the relays in Alderney and at Pleinmont, with St Peter Port still needing some work.
Route de l’Eglise, Castel, is shut while the replacement work takes place.
The 130-ton crane arrived in Guernsey at 3am yesterday and was escorted up the hill and into position.
‘There were no problems getting down the antenna at all,’ Mr Armstrong said.
‘We have been here for two weeks, so all the preparation work was done and ready for today.’
Three crane operators, four riggers and two engineers have been working hard to get the job done.
The thick fibreglass tube covered the transmitters inside and it was about 10 metres tall. The design was obsolete.
Mr Armstrong said there were only two other similar transmitters left in the UK.
The new antenna is already in Guernsey, in storage.
‘It is a better design,’ Mr Armstrong said.
‘We don’t want to go into French territory, so it has to be a high-tech antenna. So it’s quite an unusual design.’
It is slightly larger than the old antenna and is covered in metal panels.
‘It will look more modern,’ Mr Armstrong said.
It is hoped that it will be installed today, however Storm Helene is currently heading for the Britain Isles, with brisk south-westerly winds predicted for Guernsey.
‘There is a storm coming in,’ Mr Armstrong said.
‘The crane can’t operate in winds above 21mph.’
The crane is going back on the ferry on Saturday, so the work needs to be done by then.
Getting the new antenna into position will not be the end of the job – several weeks of installation work will need to take place. It should be working by October on the existing frequencies.
In March, islanders will need to retune their televisions to the new frequencies.
