Table of Contents
BT has submitted plans to remove a telephone kiosk in Hoylake and replace it with a new hi-tech 'street hub'.
Street hubs are digital replacements for traditional phone boxes and offer free ultrafast Wi-Fi, free national landline calls, device charging, and a dedicated 999 emergency button and also feature advertising displays.
It proposes placing it on the pavement outside Betfred on Market Street, and taking out the phone box outside the nearby Hoylake Lights pub.
An application submitted to the council states: "BT is continuing to move forward with public connectivity and Street Hubs will provide a sleek and modern answer to the demands of a digitally connected society.
"BT Street Hub has all the existing benefits of the previous structure but with better Wi-Fi range, air quality monitoring, insight counting and small cell mobile connectivity."
The company says at the same time as carrying out the installation they are "decluttering these environments with the associated removal of existing BT phone boxes".
It adds: "The design of the Street Hub is compact, modern, and appropriate to its commercial context.
"It maintains adequate footway width, does not impede pedestrian movement, and integrates with existing street furniture.
"The proposal therefore accords with development plan policies relating to design quality, public realm, and pedestrian safety."
The planning application can be found at https://online.wirral.gov.uk/planning/index.html?fa=getApplication&id=232789.
