Badenoch and Strathspey to lose more public payphones?
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More question marks are hanging over public call boxes in the strath.
The Highland Council has confirmed that public opinion is being sought on BT’s proposal to remove 110 public payphones from across the Highland region, with most areas of the strath affected.
There are seven payphones in question. They are (with the number of calls made on them over the last year in brackets):
Aviemore, Glenmore Lodge (75)
Carrbridge (113)
Cromdale and Advie, at Cromdale Post Office (63)
Grantown High Streeet (83)
Kincraig UAX site (7)
Laggan Post Office (1)
Newtonmore, Ralia Visitor Centre (25).
The council's online consultation was launched today (Tuesday, August 20) and a spokesperson explained: "Regulation set out by Ofcom, the independent regulator, states that local authorities have the responsibility to co-ordinate consultations to gather views about proposed payphone removals.
"The council is encouraging members of the public to look at BT’s proposals and comment, giving as much information as possible. To comply with Ofcom guidelines the council will undertake a two-stage consultation where communities and other stakeholders will have the opportunity to object or agree to the proposed changes. The first stage will invite comments on the proposed removals.
"Following the first stage, a first notice of decision will be published which will outline Highland Council’s initial position on the proposed removals. Communities and stakeholders will then be invited to consider the first notice of decision and then be given a further opportunity to comment on the proposed changes."
Highland Council Leader, Cllr Margaret Davidson said: “Let’s be clear that this is BT’s proposals that we are consulting on and Highland Council is keen to know public opinion on all of these phones
“It’s important that as many people as possible reply to the survey so that we can build an accurate picture of individuals’ and community views and needs.
She added: “I urge members of the public to respond to the consultation. People living in the areas of proposed closures are in the best position to know the impact the removal of a payphone would have on them and their community.”
The first stage of the consultation is available at: https://www.highland.gov.uk/consultations and will be open until 5pm on September18.
More info: Highland Council Policy Unit at policy6@highland.gov.uk or phone 01463 702 006.
"Following the first stage of consultation, a first notice of decision will be published. This will outline our initial position on the proposed removals. Communities and stakeholders will then be invited to consider the first notice of decision and be given further opportunity to comment on the proposed changes.
"Following this second phase of consultation, the final decision notice will be submitted to BT and published in early November 2019."
Ofcom states that BT must not bring a proposed closure into effect if it has received written objection to the proposal from the council within 90 days (by the end of the consultation period). This is known as the local veto.
The council will need to know:
•Who you are;
•What payphones you are commenting on;
•Whether you approve or oppose removal of each payphone;
•Why you oppose or approve.
In areas with 3G / 4G mobile network coverage, emergency services can be contacted by mobile phone users at no cost. However, they are particularly concerned to identify which of the payphones proposed for closure should be retained for the following reasons:
•Poor, sporadic, or lack of mobile network coverage at the location; AND
•No alternative means of making emergency calls locally.
Phone kiosks can be adopted:
Communities with a traditional, red heritage phone box have opportunity to adopt the kiosk (with the phone-line removed), for £1.
