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30
Oct
Fears Harrogate digital street hubs could be used by drug dealers
Town councillors have raised concerns that two planned BT street hubs in Harrogate could lead to anti-social behaviour.
BT has proposed replacing unused telephone boxes on Cheltenham Parade and the footpath outside 53 High Street in Starbeck with digital street hubs.
Each hub would have a 75-inch, LCD advertising display screen, as well as free public Wi-Fi, free UK calls, USB charging and an emergency services button.
In its plans, BT said the hubs would help to “significantly enhance the provision of local community communications facilities and services”.
However, a meeting of Harrogate Town Council's planning committee last night (October 29) heard concerns the hubs could be used for anti-social behaviour, such as drug dealing, and have an “adverse impact” on the street scene.
The current telephone box on Starbeck High Street (left) and the planned street hub (right).
Cllr Graham Dixon, a Liberal Democrat who represents Harlow ward, said free WiFi and calls could lead to “anti-social activity”.
He added that North Yorkshire Police had pointed to instances in other areas where the hubs had been used to facilitate drug dealing.
Cllr Dixon said:
I would be concerned that they could be a focal point for anti-social behaviour.
'Serious concerns'
Cllr Monika Slater, a Liberal Democrat who represents New Park, said the planned hub on Cheltenham Parade, which would be installed near the junction with Oxford Street, could also be a “focal point for hanging around”.
Meanwhile, Cllr David Goodall, the Reform UK councillor for Bilton Woodfield, said he had “serious concerns” over the “adverse impact” on the street scene, the nature of the advertisements on the hubs and the “risk of anti-social behaviour”.
However, in response to the plans, Richard Ball, designing out crime officer for North Yorkshire Police, said BT had produced a “comprehensive anti-social behaviour management plan” for the hubs.
He said:
I am aware this type of installation has caused antisocial behaviour issues in other parts of the country. For example, the free call to mobiles service has been used to facilitate drug dealing.
However, BT has produced a comprehensive anti-social behaviour management plan. It includes an algorithm to identify repeated antisocial number use so that number can be blocked.
The planning committee voted to object to both plans on the grounds of impact on the street scene, nature of advertising and concern over anti-social behaviour.
The former Harrogate Borough Council refused plans for six BT street hubs in Starbeck and Harrogate in 2023.
At the time, the council rejected the planned units on the grounds that they were “intrusive and inappropriate”.
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