Ripon gardens get £15,000 faceliftHarrogate homes without landlines and WiFi after contractor ‘accidentally damages’ networkWhat are the plans for Ripon’s iconic telephone kiosks?BT answers Ripon Civic Society’s call to repair historic city centre telephone kiosks
Telecoms giant BT has answered a call from Ripon Civic Society to carry out repair work on the four vandalised telephone kiosks that stand in line in the city centre.
Richard Taylor, co-chair of the heritage watchdog, raised concerns about the dangerous condition of the kiosks, which have had glass window panels deliberately smashed over a period of time.
He told the Stray Ferret:
“They were not safe to use and we are delighted to see this action being taken by BT and also look forward to the kiosks being re-painted in due course.”
Mr Taylor was in contact with BT last week to remind them the K6 Kiosks, which were given grade II listed status by English Heritage in 1987, were still awaiting repairs that he had been requested in December.
Above is how the vandalised kiosks looked in December and below how they now look after broken panels have been replaced
He said:
“It is rare to have a grouping of four telephone kiosks of this vintage – particularly in a city of Ripon’s size.”
Mr Taylor pointed out:
“They stand in close proximity to the cabmen’s shelter – another grade II listed building – and together they are part of Ripon’s heritage and are of special architectural interest.
“It would be great to eventually see the kiosks being used as something like an information hub, where local people and visitors to Ripon could find out more about the history of our ancient city.
“Ideally, one of the phones should be kept operational, as some people do not have mobiles.”
Designed by architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, to mark the Silver Jubilee of King George V in 1935, the K6 kiosks are iconic structures still seen in many places across the UK.
Main Picture: Nick Ions and Patricia Barrie, who are members of the BT maintenance team which looks after a thousand telephone kiosks in Yorkshire, carried out the repairs.
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Call for BT to repair Ripon’s vandalised listed telephone kiosks
Telecoms giant BT is being called to repair a line of four grade II listed telephone kiosks in Ripon city centre that continue to suffer from attacks by vandals.
The classically designed kiosks, with their signature domed roofs, have been located on the eastern side of Market Square for decades and were listed in June 1987 by English Heritage.
They have fallen into a state of disrepair, with window panels broken and new evidence of recent vandal attacks. All four have been deliberately damaged.
Richard Taylor, co-chair of heritage watchdog Ripon Civic Society, who has taken a keen interest in the kiosks, reacted to the latest vandalism when he told the Stray Ferret:
“In the longer term, I hope that they can be re-purposed and vandal-proofed as they have been by councils in other towns and cities , but in the meantime, while they remain in BT’s ownership, they need to be repaired as soon as possible before they fall into a worse state of dilapidation.”
He added:
“It is rare to have a grouping of four telephone kiosks of this vintage – particularly in a city of Ripon’s size.”
Mr Taylor pointed out:
“They stand in close proximity to the cabmen’s shelter – another grade II listed building – and together they are part of Ripon’s heritage and are of special architectural interest.
“It would be great to eventually see the kiosks being used as something like an information hub, where local people and visitors to Ripon could find out more about the history of our ancient city.
“Ideally, one of the phones should be kept operational, as some people do not have mobiles.”
Designed by architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, to mark the Silver Jubilee of King George V in 1935, the K6 kiosks are iconic structures still seen in many places across the UK,
BT reveals plans to remove two rural phone boxesBT Group has revealed plans to remove two payphones from rural locations near Ripon.
The company has applied to North Yorkshire Council for planning permission to take away phone boxes in Grantley and Winksley.
According to planning documents submitted in support of the application, the Winksley phone box has not been used for any calls in the last 12 months, while the one in Grantley has been used five times.
People have 90 days to object to the plans.
Planning documents say communities can also apply to adopt phone boxes and transform their use. They add:
“Thousands of boxes have been reinvented as cafes, mini-libraries and defibrillator sites. Communities can adopt most red boxes for just £1.”
The deadline for making representations to BT is November 20.
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New 4G mast will boost mobile coverage in Upper NidderdaleUp to 1,000 Nidderdale residents, businesses and visitors are set to receive 4G phone coverage thanks to a new mast at Scar House reservoir.
The EE mast, which Yorkshire Water installed in partnership with BT, was erected primarily to enable water quality to be monitored remotely.
Yorkshire Water, which owns the reservoir, has installed monitors on water courses feeding Scar House.
Data transmitted by the mast will allow scientists and engineers to proactively select the best available water sources for transfer to its water treatment works.
Weather, temperature, and the condition of the moorland can impact the quality of water sources, as they can influence things like the amount of peat found in the water.
Managing water at its source is a more cost effective and environmentally friendly approach than traditional energy intensive and expensive “end of pipe” treatment solutions.
The better the water quality is at source, the less energy it takes to process at the treatment works, reducing Yorkshire Water’s carbon footprint.
Ted Rycroft, Yorkshire Water’s product and process manager, said:
“Water coming out of customers taps will continue to be the high quality that it always has been – the key change here is that the water coming into the treatment works will be of higher quality, and therefore require less treatment.
“That helps us to keep costs down for our customers and our operational emissions to a minimum, while maintaining our high standards of water quality.”
Ashish Gupta, BT’s managing director for corporate and public sector, hailed the project as “the perfect example of using tech to work smarter – benefiting both local people and the environment”.
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Council refuses plans for ‘intrusive’ BT street hubs in Harrogate and StarbeckHarrogate Borough Council has refused plans to install six BT “street hubs” in Harrogate town centre and Starbeck.
The telecommunications company applied to the council to install the free-standing units on Cambridge Street outside the former Smiggle shop, on Oxford Street outside Marks and Spencer, and on High Street in Starbeck.
Further proposals for a hub outside the Cotswold Company on Station Parade and on Prospect Crescent in Harrogate were also rejected.
The hubs, which are being installed across the country, provide free phone calls and Wi-Fi, rapid charging points and touch screen tablets that can be used to access services.
How the BT street hub would look on Starbeck High Street.
However, the council has refused the planned units on the grounds that they were “intrusive and inappropriate”.
The authority added in its decision notice:
“The proposed infrastructure is viewed as street clutter, with unrelated advertisement to the area and therefore would fail to preserve or enhance the character of the Conservation Area or the surrounding street landscape.”
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In documents submitted to the council, BT described the hubs as “reinventing phone boxes for the digital age”.
It also said the hubs were largely used to replace older infrastructure and would deliver a valuable service.
BT said:
“Every street hub provides access to maps giving directions to nearby landmarks and services – a valuable resource for visitors or those without access to a smartphone.
“They also act as wayfinding boards, giving walkers and cyclists clear directions, and providing local advertisers the opportunity to give simple directions to their businesses.
“This sponsorship will also cover the maintenance and servicing costs of the street hub. This is necessary to ensure the program remains financially sustainable.”
The Stray Ferret has approached BT to ask whether it will still pursue the proposals, but had not received a response by the time of publication.
Police support Starbeck BT ‘street hub’ despite drugs concernsNorth Yorkshire Police has backed the installation of a BT ‘street hub’ in Starbeck despite concerns they can encourage drug dealing.
BT has applied to Harrogate Borough Council to remove the existing phone box and set up a hub on High Street outside Starbeck Post Office. The telecommunications company plans to install seven of the hubs across Harrogate.
The hubs, which are being installed across the country, provide free phone calls and Wi-Fi, rapid charging points and touch screen tablets that can be used to access services.
BT describes them as ‘reinventing phone boxes for the digital age’. But in a letter to the council, Richard Ball, designing out crime officer at North Yorkshire Police, said the force was aware the street hubs could be used for anti-social behaviour, such as drug dealing.
However, Mr Ball said he felt the issue was addressed by BT as the company could block any phone number used for such crimes.
He said:
“I am aware this type of installation has caused anti-social behaviour issues in other parts of the country.
“For example, the free call to mobile service has been used to facilitate drug dealing. However, BT have produced a comprehensive anti-social behaviour management plan.”
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Mr Ball added that the force would support the street hub and would be interested in “utilising the community messaging facility that the street hub can provide”.
BT has also applied to install three free-standing units with screens on both sides on Cambridge Street outside the former Smiggle shop, on Oxford Street outside Marks and Spencer, and on Station Parade in front of the Cotswold Company.
The applications reveal Harrogate Borough Council’s planning department has already expressed concern about the proposals, saying they would be viewed as “street clutter” .
However, BT argued the hubs were largely used to replace older infrastructure and would deliver a valuable service.
BT plans three advertising screens in central HarrogateThree interactive advertising screens could be put up in central Harrogate if planning permission is granted.
BT has applied to install three free-standing units with screens on both sides on Cambridge Street outside the former Smiggle shop, on Oxford Street outside Marks and Spencer, and on Station Parade in front of the Cotswold Company.
Known as ‘street hubs’, the units could be used for public service announcements, accessing council services, making 999 calls or charging devices via two USB ports.
Supporting information submitted with the applications said they were designed as the modern equivalent of a traditional phone box, adding:
“They keep communities digitally connected to local services. They are always on for key public announcements and advertisers to reach their audience. Whether it’s a small, medium or large organisation, a council, or a local group, they can get their message seen.
“We work closely with councils when we rollout street hubs so they get the most from them, and help those who live in, work in or visit these places with digital services at their fingertips.”
The hubs would each be almost 3m high, 1.2m wide and 35cm deep. The screen on each side would be 167cm high and 95cm wide.
The applications said they would be monitored 24/7, with weekly inspections and thorough cleaning at least twice a week.
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BT is expected to apply for a total of seven of the street hubs around Harrogate, including these three.
The proposed BT street hub outside the Cotswold Company on Station Parade
The applications reveal that Harrogate Borough Council’s planning department has already expressed concern about the proposals, saying they would be viewed as “street clutter” . However, BT argued the hubs were largely used to replace older infrastructure and would deliver a valuable service.
The application said:
“Every street hub provides access to maps giving directions to nearby landmarks and services – a valuable resource for visitors or those without access to a smartphone.
“They also act as wayfinding boards, giving walkers and cyclists clear directions, and providing local advertisers the opportunity to give simple directions to their businesses.
“This sponsorship will also cover the maintenance and servicing costs of the street hub. This is necessary to ensure the program remains financially sustainable.”
To view or comment on the application, visit the council’s planning website. Use references 22/04368/FUL for Station Parade, 22/04370/FUL for Cambridge Street, and 22/04369/FUL for Oxford Street.
