Villagers in the South Devon village of East Prawle are being
forced to build a 2ft high phone pedestal after an elderly resident
complained about mobile phone users standing on the village bench to
get reception.
For months the only place to get reception in this remote village
has been standing on the bench facing West. Villagers take it in turns
to stand on the bench to make phone calls. After the complaint,
stating that the bench was always full of muddy footprints, the parish
council has voted to move the bench and install a £100 podium in its
place.
David Hampden Smith, chairman of Chivelstone Parish Council,
explained: “We have never been able to get a signal in the village.
Now one has been found, we have decided to put a podium there because
the bench is getting ruined with everyone clambering on to it.
£100 is a lot of money for a small community council but it seems that
everyone wanted it.
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Richard Cordy, 65, a retired shop owner in the village, said: “It
is a bit embarrassing for people to have to climb on to a park bench
but it’s the only way.
The residents here have been waiting ten years for a phone signal and
visitors are always grumbling about it.
There was even a small queue of people wanting to use their phone at
the weekend. It is all a bit mad really.
