Council refuses plans for city centre help hubs

Objections were raised about how close the proposed locations were to York's historic buildings

Plans for five digital help hubs in York city centre offering free wi-fi, touchscreen maps and defibrillators have been turned down.

Applicant JCDecaux's hoped to install information points in Parliament Street, St Sampson's Square, Davygate and Piccadilly.

City of York Council planning officials refused the plans over their proximity to historic buildings and their impact on pedestrians and public spaces.

The advertising firm said thought had been given to the placement of the hubs and it had been open to changing locations if needed.

Plans for the hubs, designed to replace public phone boxes, were submitted to the council in March.

They would have featured a 7.1ft (218cm) screen on one side for advertising with a 2.6ft (81cm) touchscreen and public phone on the other.

Other promised facilities included charging ports powered by solar panels.

Objectors, including Make It York and the York Disability Rights Forum, said the hubs would clutter streets and impact crowds during large events like York Christmas Market.

Council officers decided the public benefits did not outweigh the potential harm of the hubs, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

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