If you’re seeking a mobile phone signal in Torrington, chances are the locals will direct you to the hill behind the local graveyard as it’s one of the few places in the district to get a bar or two of reception.
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Torrington has been on the mobile phone black spot list for some years, but there’s little relief in sight for travellers passing through the village, although the locals seemed resigned.
“The reception is pretty poor,” local resident Mr Cork said.
“It’s common to see visitors walking around the paddock with their phone in the air, trying to get a signal.”
He said there were plans in the 1980s to put a mobile tower on the top of Thunderbox Lookout, but those plans were canned and there have been no moves since.
Mr Cork is among those who feel a reliable mobile phone service would have a positive impact on residents’ standard of living.
“Having reliable contact would make a difference,” he said.
“More opportunities would come with a mobile phone. There’s also the peace of mind, with the phone acting as an emergency contact system.”
Torrington born-and-bred and now hall committee president Jan Styles said the ironstone and granite that surrounds the village does it no favours, reception-wise. A recent community meeting with a telecoms expert in Deepwater also brought no joy.
“I think he was just there to sell phones,” she said.
While some visitors relish being unreachable during short stays, Ms Styles is also concerned about the lack of communication in the event of accidents and emergencies. There are recent examples of delays in the arrival of help as someone sought a landline to raise the alarm.
She said some people had satellite phones but the signal tends to drop out on them as well.
Given the topography a very local tower may be the only solution. In the meantime, it’s doing the ‘emu walk’ with the mobile phone raised on extended arm trying to catch a signal, or back up to the cemetery.