THE Mayor of Wellington has said that the town council needs to keep up with modern-day innovations after seeing “children sat in pushchairs texting on phones.”

Cllr Janet Lloyd made the comment during a discussion as to whether Wellington Town Council should support the principle of hi-tech digital advertising and information boards becoming a familiar sight on town centre streets.

Councillors were given a presentation from tech company Pulse Smart Hub last month, while there were further discussions at the council’s economic development committee on September 11.

And although there is a certain amount of concern and scepticism, councillors voted in favour of allowing the idea to be explored more.

Pulse Smart Hub has been described as the “smartest of street furniture” and is essentially a digital advertising board which promotes local information in a digital format and “free of charge” for people to use.

The hub would also be equipped with a potentially lifesaving public access defibrillator which could be used on someone in the event of them having suffered a cardiac arrest.

Cllr Mark Lithgow, speaking at the council’s economic development committee on September 11, said: “I was quite sceptical about this, but if they are giving something for free then I am not against it.

“We have a lot of young people who are very savvy and we should make sure they have access to technology.”

The Mayor, Cllr Janet Lloyd, said: “I have seen children sat in pushchairs texting on phones!”

Cllr Mike McGuffie referred to himself as a “luddite” – a term used for English workers in the early 1800s who were opposed to the use of automated machinery in the textile industry.

“I am a bit of a luddite on some things and I do worry these signs will affect the street scene,” he said. “I don’t think we need to be first on innovation – let Taunton be first in this brave new world.

“I don’t think we should continue with this.”

Cllr John Thorne said: “I do like the idea of this. Pulse took the initiative and gave us a presentation and so I see no harm in pursuing this with them.”

But Cllr Keith Wheatley was less enthused by the idea and questioned whether people actually need these digital information boards on the street?

“They are basically saying they are solving a non-existent problem,” he said. “Many people use their own phones for all this.

“I think this would get scepticism and resistance from residents and I feel we should be saying “thanks, but no thanks” to this.”

And Cllr Mark Lithgow added: “It is a commercial venture and they will be looking to make money.

“If they need revenue they will sell advertising and they will put whatever they want up there as long as it is legal, safe and honest.”

Cllr Janet Lloyd said this whole concept was just “moving things on from having adverts on bus shelters?”

Committee chairman, Cllr Chris Booth, said: “There are clearly some doubts and concerns about this.”