Call boxes could be replaced with multi-media hubs

A white building with the word PRIMARK in blue letters. There is a street hub in front of the building, with a purple picture in it. The sky is blue. There is blue, red and white bunting. There are metal benches in the street. In the background on the right is a tree. Image source, BT/Torbay Council
Image caption,

BT has submitted planning applications for four street hubs

  • Published

Planning applications have been put forward to replace street payphones with three-metre-tall multi-media hubs.

BT is bidding for four of the hubs in Torquay to provide free ultra-fast wifi, phone calls and phone charging.

The proposed hub locations are near Poundland at Fleet Street, at Tor Hill House and in two places outside shops in Union Street.

The hubs have been rejected in some other parts of the country but BT said they would provide a "sleek and modern answer to the demands of a digitally-connected society".

Commenting on the application for the hub at Fleet Street, Torbay's anti social behaviour team said it welcomed the removal of the old phone boxes and supported the application.

BT said the hubs would have two screens each, on which advertisements and public information could be displayed.

The application from BT said: "Investment in the high street is at an all-time low, but that has not slowed BT down as they look to ramp up their rollout of new street hubs across the UK.

"They are continuing their commitment to invest and improve in the high street, decluttering these environments with the associated removal of existing and redundant BT phone boxes."

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