Carnforth communications firm helping BT to reach new heights

Over the course of the last few months LARS has been working with BT updating some of its existing towers.

The company has completed the installation of strengthening steelwork on several BT towers to ensure that they have sufficient structural capacity and are fit for purpose.

The towers are located across the UK and each one has thrown up its own unique challenges.

At BT Copt Oak Radio Station in Leicestershire, for example, LARS was limited to a very small window in which to complete the work. As well as being an operational site, the structure is also used as a radio rigging training tower by BT, so the work had to be completed when the tower was not being used for training purposes.

Work at Windy Hill Radio Station at Saddleworth in Greater Manchester proved very challenging. As well as the expected wind – particularly when you are working on a 90m structure – heavy snow didn’t make the job any easier. However, the three man installation team successfully completed the work required to ensure that the structure continues to be operational for BT.

LARS has also undertaken the design, fabrication and installation of a 60m structure in Hampshire. The steel lattice tower was fabricated at the LARS production facility in Carnforth and was designed to carry numerous antennae and dishes, including those taken from the previous structure on the site.

Julian Cooper, business development manager at LARS, said: “This tower has more components than any other that LARS has undertaken and its successful completion showcases the scale of structure that the company is capable of fabricating and installing. The tower is also the first structure that we have constructed for BT and we hope that our business relationship will continue to flourish in the future.”

Stewart Mardle, BT senior tower and rigging policy manager, said, “Working with LARS has helped us to speed up our work to increase capacity across our radio network and in the case of our tower in Hampshire, replace ageing infrastructure. 

“The radio towers are used by both BT and third parties to provide and support mobile and communications services to customers and play an essential role in the UK’s network.”