THE signal is coming through loud and clear in Porlock village hall at last – thanks to a new mast the village had to wait months to erect, because of problems caused by the pandemic.

The 11.5-metre metal mast, which now provides wi-fi at the hall, was recently hoisted into place in the adjoining car park with the help of a tractor and heavy lifting equipment, in the final phase of a project that has taken three years to bring to fruition.

Porlock parish council and the village hall committee worked together to organise the undertaking, and take part in a free government initiative to help bring internet to remoter areas. Although the wi-fi is free, the two organisations have paid costs of £1,600 to transport the mast and get everything installed.

Independent internet service provider Airband, which works with the government on this scheme, used a cherry picker to place the ‘small little box’ on top of the pole, and receive the wi-fi.

“It’s taken time but it’s there now. The mast had to be in a particular location and at a particular height, so that it picks up the signal from Bossington,” said parish councillor David Hancock.

He praised local man Alan Binding and colleagues, who undertook ‘nerve-wracking’ manoeuvres to get the 300kg – 660 pound – pole through the village and into place, dealing with traffic and the toll road all the while.

Once the wi-fi box was attached, Graham Haw, of the village hall committee, ran cables into the village hall – which now has wi-fi for everything from weddings to council meetings.

“So many people use the hall and need wi-fi, so it is very worthwhile,” said David.

It took months for the venture to be arranged, including planning permission from Exmoor National Park and working out how and where to site the pole and box. The mast was set to come from Leicestershire earlier this year, when everything ground to a halt with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Finally, though, the provider was able to bring it down recently as part of a larger consignment.

Everything is now in place, and a parish council spokesman said: “We would like to thank everyone involved in helping with the project.”