Lib Dem Campaign Victory as BT Proposes First Street Hub for Burnham-on-Sea
The Lib Dems are are celebrating a campaign win after BT submitted a planning application to install the first Street Hub in Burnham-on-Sea, on Pier Street — a step local Lib Dem councillors and activists have been fighting for since October 2023.
For over two years, Lib Dem councillors and activists have made the case that redundant phone boxes should be replaced, not removed, to ensure residents benefit from modern communication infrastructure rather than losing another public resource. This began when Cllr Ross Baker first challenged the proposed removal of the Princess Street phone box at a Town Council meeting in October 2023, which was later removed, urging BT to consider replacing the unit with something higher-tech and later suggested BT’s Street Hubs as a forward-looking alternative.
Since then, the Lib Dem team has petitioned, engaged residents, highlighted the issue in the press, and repeatedly pressed for BT to invest in modern, community-focused infrastructure for Burnham-on-Sea & Highbridge and replace the units instead of just removing them.
The new planning application for the Pier Street Hub is the first concrete result of that campaign.
Cllr Ross Baker said:
“Having a means of communication can be very valuable and vital in an emergency or where assistance can be provided to residents, tourists, homeless people or survivors fleeing domestic or sexual abuse.”
“That’s why we have campaigned since 2023 to keep sites in use instead of losing them. We strongly welcome BT’s move and hope it is the first of several Street Hubs installed across Burnham-on-Sea & Highbridge.”
Street hubs can assist in communication by providing wifi, 4G/5G service without a mast, fast charging, a free phone along with a dedicated 999 button which will send the location automatically to emergency services as well as connection to council services. These services can be provided amongst other features which these street hubs can be fitted with, and are paid for by displaying adverts with the digital advert board fitted within the unit with no additional cost to the user.
The Pier Street application also includes the removal and replacement of the payphone currently on site — a key transition the Lib Dems have campaigned to achieve responsibly, ensuring a modern replacement is secured before any removal.
The planning application is now live on the Somerset Council website under reference 11/25/00106.
Residents have until 2 January 2026 to submit their comments. All comments are welcome.
Click here for the planning application.
Lib Dem Councillors and Activists say this marks only the beginning.
“There are several former phone-box sites across Burnham & Highbridge where a Street Hub would provide valuable public benefits,” campaigners said. “We will continue encouraging BT to ensure more are delivered.”