Runnymede Borough Council - Public Payphone Box Removal Consultation

BT have informed us of their proposal to remove two public payphone boxes at the following locations: Franklands Drive, Addlestone and St Peters Way, Chertsey.

 

BT's reason for this is that overall use of payphones has declined by over 90 per cent in the last decade and the need to provide payphones for use in emergency situations is diminishing all the time, with at least 98 per cent of the UK having either 3G or 4G coverage. This is important because as long as there is network coverage, it's now possible to call the emergency services, even when there is no credit or coverage from your own mobile provider.

 

It is important that we provide you with the opportunity to offer your views on whether you support or disagree with BT's proposal.   

 

Further guidance on public payphone box removal, including procedure, timescales, and relevant factors to be considered, is published by Ofcom and can be found at the following location: https://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/consultations/uso/statement/removals.pdf

First phase consultation:

Following no responses from the local communities in the first phase of consultation, we have prepared a First Notification which outlines our initial position that we consent to the proposed removals. Local communities are invited to consider the first notice of decision and to comment on the proposed removals.

The final phase of the consultation will close on 5 January 2020.