BT is planning to install a Street Hub on the pavement in Keynsham town centre, despite Bath & North East Somerset Council voicing concerns in advance.
How the proposed Street Hub would look | Image © BT / Mitie
The installation is proposed right between Poundland and Peacocks on Keynsham High Street.
BT Street Hubs offer free public wi-fi, free UK calls, USB charging, an emergency services button and a range of other digital services.
They aim to replace phone kiosks. BT says the High Street location is a more suitable site than the phone box kiosk near Tesco at Bristol Road, which is to be removed.
BT sent a formal pre-application consultation request to the council earlier this year. The planning team responded to say recent regeneration work had included re-surfacing, new street furniture, and landscaping, so any additions should continue to seek to enhance the character and appearance of Keynsham Conservation Area.
They added: “The proposed Street Hub location is adjacent to a c.1960s row of shops. The addition of appropriately designed infrastructure in this location would not detract from the significance of surrounding heritage assets.
“However, the proposed Street Hub would be overly dominant in scale and would be a prominent and unsympathetic addition. There is concern over the large, illuminated screens which would be visually intrusive and incongruous to the historic high street setting.”
In its planning application, submitted along with a request for advertisement consent, BT says of the council’s response: “Albeit the commentary provided is largely negative, it is considered that there are clear planning merits associated with the site which justify its progression into planning.”
BT says that when seen in perspective within the street scene, the proposed siting and orientation of the BT Street Hub, will not appear incongruous or have a significant material impact on the setting or views of the Conservation Area or various listed buildings.
“It is ultimately considered that any minor harm upon the aforementioned heritage assets would be outweighed by the significant public benefits of the Street Hub in what is a vibrant part of Keynsham, and which is already dominated by modern shop frontages and an array of street furniture.”
The application states that the width of the pavement at this location is 4.3 metres and the Street Hub is 1.236 metres wide; it would be at the recommended distance of half a metre from the kerb, so the remaining pavement would be clear for pedestrians to pass safely.
BT adds that the hub is only 350mm wide so any “minor narrowing” of the footway would be for just a few centimetres.
In terms of public safety, it says the site of the BT Street Hub and the display of digital advertisements on its sides will allow for the continued safe movements of motorists and pedestrians. “In this regard, its presence within the street scene would not endanger public safety of those people who are taking reasonable care for their own and others’ safety. “
The application does not mention the High Street’s stepped kerb cycle lane running alongside the pavement. Since it opened in March 2022, more than 100 pedestrians have fallen and injured themselves.
One objector has posted a comment on the council’s planning portal saying: “I think this billboard will cheapen the High Street, I think it will get vandalised and graffitied.
“It will block the pavement for people with wheelchairs, scooter and prams. It will block the view down the High Street.
“Keynsham has an old market town feel and this is completely opposite of this.”
Another says: “What this offers is a great in principle, free internet and calls, also the fact it is an emergency help point. I just think the size of it and the orientation on that walkway will be an issue and it will block the pavement.
“A pavement that a lot of mobility scooters, wheelchairs and illegal fast electric scooters use. This sign will create a blind spot that could cause an accident.
“It should be revised and relocated to the opposite side of the road where there is more space.”
The planning reference is 25/03807/FUL and the deadline for comments is 20th November.
