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03
Dec
Harrogate digital street hubs rejected amid 'visual clutter' concerns
North Yorkshire Council has refused plans for two BT street hubs in Harrogate.
BT 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, Martin Grainger, head of development management at the council, said both schemes would “introduce visual clutter” and “unrelated advertising” into a prominent location.
In a decision notice refusing the plans, Mr Grainger added that both hubs were proposed near grade two listed heritage assets, such as St Andrews Church in Starbeck and Harrogate Theatre.
He said:
The proposed BT Street Hub, by virtue of its design, scale and associated digital advertisements, would introduce visual clutter into a prominent location within Harrogate Conservation Area.
This would detract from the established character of the street scene and harm the setting of nearby heritage asset.
Drug dealing fears
The move comes as councillors on Harrogate Town Council raised concern that the hubs could lead to anti-social behaviour.
At a meeting in October, 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.
The current telephone box on Starbeck High Street (left) and the planned street hub (right).
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”.
The latest refusal is the second time that BT has been turned down for the street hubs in Harrogate.
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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