Petition: Installation of Street Hubs

BT have removed the phone box on Princess Street and are consulting on the removal of one of the final pay phones remaining in Burnham-On-Sea opposite Sea View Road along the Esplanade.

The Lib Dem Team in Burnham & Highbridge are petitioning BT to replace the phone kiosks with BT Street Hubs instead of just removing them and leaving nothing, which is their current plan.

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, are paid for by displaying adverts with the digital advert board fitted within the unit.

Having a means of communication can be very valuable and vital in an emergency or where assistance can be provided to residents, tourists, homeless or survivors fleeing domestic/sexual abuse. Our vulnerable must not be left behind.

So we ask BT and the Minister of State for Data Protection and Telecoms to ensure that phone boxes are not just removed but upgraded to the 21st century to there for provide the community with the ability to communicate however and where ever there may be a wish or need.