BT proposal to remove public telephone kiosks
You may be aware of BT's proposals to remove a proportion of public telephone kiosks across the country. BT have to follow a set procedure before they can remove any telephone kiosk at a given site. This procedure gives people the chance to object. For further details, see the regulator Ofcom's website
In light of the amount of local interest and concern in this matter Wealden District Council has negotiated a time extension on responding to BT's consultation but this will end on 24th September. In order that the District Council may forward its response by the due date it is important that any representations are received by no later than 15th September.
Please send any comments to:
Roger Bates
Wealden District Council
Pine Grove
Crowborough TN6 1DH
email roger.bates@wealden.gov.uk
In Wealden, particular concerns have been raised about phone kiosks that contribute to the architectural heritage of an area or are a valued part of the street or village scene. In these cases it may be possible to use planning legislation to list the phone kiosk in question. However any requests for formal "listing" would need to be forwarded to English Heritage for consideration.
This procedure is relevant to the traditional red (Gilbert Scott) phone kiosks but it is important to appreciate that English Heritage is only likely to accept listing of a few of these structures and where specific criteria are met: for example phone boxes that are substantially complete or are prominent within designated Conservation Areas and in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty; or adjacent/near to Listed Buildings or play an important part in the social history of the area.
English Heritage can evaluate the potential for a phone kiosk to be listed, and if you are concerned about the loss of phone kiosks that may fit the above criteria in your Town or Parish, please contact English Heritage directly, as soon as possible and provide them with details (including perhaps photographs) of the kiosk in question. The South East office of English Heritage can be contacted at:
Eastgate Court
195-205 High Street
Guildford, GU1 3EH
email southeast@english-heritage.org.uk
As part of their response to the interest shown in this matter BT, for their part, are considering the possibility of drawing up a contract with which Town or Parish Councils would take on the maintenance, or possibly ownership, of phone kiosks they are keen to preserve. This would not include the telephone equipment itself, which would be removed but would afford local councils the opportunity to play a positive part in preservation of part of their heritage. This could include reference to how the kiosk might be used, general maintenance and a named responsible person/ contact.
