Decision details

BT Telephone Kiosk Removals Consultation

Decision Maker: Lead Cabinet Member for Communities

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Purpose:

The purpose of this decision is to agree or object to the removal of 9 telephone kiosks currently being consulted upon by BT.  The Council may also agree to the relevant parish council, or relevant local group, adopting kiosks being consulted upon, which will result in the kiosk remaining and the telephony equipment being removed.  BT, and other providers, must consult the local authority before removing any telephone kiosks or telephony equipment from kiosks.

 

The BT consultation is time-limited.  A draft decision by the Head of Transformation was published and sent to the Secretary of State on 1 October 2020 following an initial 42-day consultation.  This is the final decision, which follows a further 30-day consultation.

 

Decision:

 

Telephone number

Location

Decision (Agree/ Adopt/ Object)

Reason(s)

1

01954267201

Nr parish notice board o/s2 pco1 Smith Street Elsworth Cambridge

CB23 4HY

Object

There is no other emergency phone near the location. Mobile reception in the area is poor for all major providers.

2

01767631296

Jct b1042 High Street pco  Tadlow Royston

SG8  0EJ

Adopt

The parish council would like to adopt the kiosk.  Please contact Chair of the PC: tadlowparish@btinternet.com  PC would like to use the kiosk to house a defibrillator.

3

01767650262

Sub post office pco  Hatley St. George Sandy

SG19 3HP

Object

Mobile reception in the area is poor, as substantiated by a recent survey of residents (details available on request). 27.2% of the population are aged 65+ years old and the parish council believes the phone should be kept for general and emergency use.  Some of the elderly in the area do not have mobile phones and even residents who do require a back up should there be poor/no mobile signal.

4

01767650348

Nr Gamlingay pco1  East Hatley Sandy

SG19 3HZ

Object

Mobile reception in the area is poor, as substantiated by a recent survey of residents (details available on request). 27.2% of the population are aged 65+ years old and the parish council believes the phone should be kept for general and emergency use.  Some of the elderly in the area do not have mobile phones and even residents who do require a back up should there be poor/no mobile signal.

5

01223262649

Jcn the green pco1 Field Road Kingston Cambridge

CB23 2NQ

Adopt

The parish council would like to adopt the kiosk.  Please contact Peter Stokes Parish Clerk: kingstonpc.cambridge@gmail.com

6

01223262420

Pco pco1 Harlton Road Little Eversden Cambridge

CB23 1HD

Object

18.3% of the population are 65 years plus years of age.  This is already an emergency calls only box as it will not accept any cash or cards.

7

01223870785

Pco pco1 Station Road Foxton Cambridge

CB22 6SD

Object

While mobile reception in the area is good for all major providers, the location is known to be near a slight accident black spot.  This is the nearest kiosk to the level crossing and there are no other emergency phones near this location.

8

01223842022

Opp post office pco1 High Green Great Shelford Cambridge

CB22 5EG

Object

While mobile reception in the area is good for all major providers, the location is known to be near an accident black spot and there are no other emergency phones near location.

9

01223420439

Jnc coles rd pco1 Cambridge Road Milton Cambridge

CB24 6AW

Object

Whilst use of the phone is very low, it actually provides a community benefit and a facility that could be used in an emergency. In fairly close proximity to the kiosk there are a number of elderly residents as well as a care home. The phone is the only one in the village that the parish council are of the view that the facility should be retained for emergency use.

 

Alternative options considered:

In making its decision, the Council must consider the following:

 

Who lives there?

The type of local housing around a phone box may say how important it is to the area. If it’s surrounded by people who own their homes, there’s a fair chance they have home phones or mobiles as well. However, if the neighbourhood has mainly rented properties, social housing or residential-care homes, it could be that there are people on low incomes who need that phone box.

 

Emergency calls

Many people feel reassured that phone boxes are available if there’s an emergency. This can range from 999 calls to being able to call for help if your car breaks down. The local organisation needs to think about whether a particular phone box is more likely to be used for emergency calls than another. If, for example, the call box is near a known accident blackspot, it may strengthen the argument for it to be kept.

 

Usage levels and takings?

Whether it’s a shop, a pub or a phone box, the amount of money people spend on a local service might be seen as a sign of whether it’s important to them. BT may be able to show how much business a particular phone box is getting. If it’s a very low figure, this may support their case to remove it.

 

The Council’s options are to:

(i)       Agree to the removal of each kiosk being consulted upon, or

(ii)     Object to the removal of each kiosk being consulted upon, or

(iii)    Agree to the parish council or parish meeting adopting the kiosk, which will result in the kiosk remaining and the telephony equipment being removed.

 

Urgent item?: Yes

Publication date: 05/11/2020

Date of decision: 05/11/2020

Accompanying Documents:

  • No additional documents supplied