12 September 2008
Some residents in Lancashire could be left TV-less when the digital switchover takes place in their area next year, it has been claimed. According to a report by West Lancashire District Council, several households in Skelmersdale may be unable to receive digital TV signals. This is because they rely on communal aerials that were installed when their properties were first built in the 1960s, the Skelmersdale Advertiser reports. Work is underway to replace these with individual aerials, however a "significant number of properties" could still be unable to switch to digital in 2009. Ofcom has been informed of the problem and has agreed to build a new relay station to boost signals. However there are concerns as to whether this will happen before the switchover occurs. Skelmersdale is part of the Granada region, which covers south Cumbria, Lancashire and parts of Cheshire. The area is served by the Winter Hill transmitter, which will be turned off between October and December.