Blaenplwyf (it's pronounced 'Blineploowy') is the main station serving Aberystwyth and the Cardigan Bay area with tv and fm radio, and it's quite a busy-looking mast...
The current mast dates back to around 1987, as the original had to be replaced for re-engineering BBC FM radio to mixed polarisation.
Mike Smith says: The close up shots clearly show the UHF TV aerials at the top. Underneath are the large mixed polarization VHF / FM BBC Network Radio aerials 250 KW for each service. Below these main VHF / FM aerial are some more mixed polarization FM radio aerials mounted on a special 'gantry' for the new addition - BBC Radio Wales 95.3 MHz at 120 KW. A little further down still are four VHF/FM Sira mixed polarization aerials used typically by independent radio stations and are for Classic FM (just 10kW on 101.1MHz) and ILR Cardigan Bay (Radio Ceredigion) on 103.3.
This unusual arrangement of Classic FM sharing the ILR antenna rather than the main national VHF array was a result of a cost dispute with the BBC concerning combiner sharing fees. The BBC regarded themselves as one user and Classic FM the other, so proposed a 50-50 fee structure. At most sites it was still regarded as cost effective to accept this arrangement, however at Belmont and Blaenplwyf it was deemed cheaper to erect a separate antenna. We understand that the dispute was later resolved after legal action, and sharing fees adjusted to a per-service basis. |
