Residents of Manton House, a tower block in Birmingham, endured nearly four weeks without television after a delay in repairing the communal aerial. The issue, first reported on 17 August, was only resolved on 11 September, drawing frustration from tenants, many of whom are elderly.
Linda Cutler, 75, a widow living in the block, expressed her exasperation with the lengthy wait. She said, “Birmingham City Council is the worst authority I’ve ever known. This has been the most significant incident in my 12 years here-taking a month to fix an aerial is unbelievable.”
She added that despite reports being made about the fault, some complaints seemed to have not been properly logged. Linda emphasised the importance of television for residents, especially those living alone. “I rely on the TV for company,” she stated. “When the service was restored, it felt as though the whole block cheered.”
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Birmingham City Council has acknowledged the delay and issued an apology to residents. A spokesperson said, “We understand the frustration caused by the delay in repairing the communal television aerial at Manton House. The fault required specialist contractors, which contributed to the extended repair time.”
The council confirmed that the repair has now been completed, restoring television services to the block. They are currently reviewing the situation to identify improvements, including whether similar faults should be prioritised higher in future and enhancing communication and tracking processes for specialist contractor appointments.
The spokesperson added, “We apologise for the inconvenience caused and thank residents for their patience during this time.”