Replacing phone booths with advertising screens ‘infringement’ on rights 

Plans to replace payphones in the city centre with “horrible” advertising screen have sparked anger among local residents.

BT is applying for planning permission from Bristol City Council to remove two payphones on Merchant Street off Broadmead, and replace with them a new digital advertising screen. But locals have complained about clutter on the pavement, and the police have also raised concerns.

The screen would offer free wifi, free phone calls and USB charging, while digital displays on the side of the Street Hub would carry advertisements. The council’s development control committee is due to vote on whether to grant permission on Wednesday, August 24.

Writing to the council, one local resident said: “The introduction of more advertising will detract from the visual quality of the street for residents and be an aspect that drives tourists away. Advertising screens would consume energy, and in the middle of an environmental crisis we should consider energy a scarce resource.”

One resident called the screens an “infringement” on their rights – photo: Martin Booth

Another resident said: “We don’t want these horrible bright advertising boxes on our streets. It’s an infringement of the right to be able to walk through Bristol without being advertised something you don’t want or need by a bright screen. It’s bad for the environment and people’s wellbeing, and encourages consumerism. They will take up precious space on pavements which are already small, and make the city look worse as well.”

As well as residents unhappy about the screen cluttering the pavement, Avon and Somerset Police has raised concerns about robbery and how they would likely be used for drug dealing. Peter Wozniak, a crime prevention design adviser, said similar screens in London have seen queues of drug users waiting to use the free 30-second phone calls.

He said: “The intention of the Street Hub device is to encourage users to use generally high value mobile devices, out in the public realm. Good crime reduction advice recommends that to protect yourself from street robbery, you should keep your mobile phone and valuables out of sight. It therefore becomes a personal safety issue, with users open to street robbery.”

He also quoted a police colleague in Tower Hamlets, who said: “Our local CCTV operatives have images showing groups of drug users forming an orderly queue to use the phone on these booths, to order drugs using the free 30-second call that is provided.”

But according to BT, the Street Hub project would help “future-proof” the city centre, making it “smarter and safer”. The hubs also include sensors to count pedestrians and bicycles, and monitor air quality.

Lewis Baldwin, a planning consultant representing BT, said: “The Street Hub will help future-proof the high street, making them smarter, safer, and more sustainable. Investment in the high street is at an all-time low, but that hasn’t slowed BT down as they look to ramp up their rollout of new Street Hubs across the UK.”

Bristol City Council planning officers are recommending that councillors grant permission for the new Street Hub. A vote is now due to take place on Wednesday afternoon, August 24.

Alex Seabrook is a local democracy reporter for Bristol

All photos: Martin Booth

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