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Removal of BT Telephone Kiosks

Dover District Council was asked to provide feedback to BT on BT’s proposal to remove three Telephone Kiosks within the Dover District.

With that in mind the Council invited feedback from local communities about the proposals. That community feedback was then incorporated into the Council’s response to BT in November 2023. 

Why do BT want to remove Payphones?

Overall use of payphones has declined by over 90% in the last decade and the need to provide payphones for use in emergency situations is diminishing all the time, with at least 98% of the UK having mobile coverage.  This is important because as long as there is mobile network coverage, it’s possible to call the emergency services, even when there is no coverage from your own mobile network provider.

 

BT requested that Dover District Council consult on the below Telephone Kiosks, and consultation on the same ran in stages from 24th July to 24th August and 11th September to 5th October 2023. DDC has reviewed all comments received and has provided the below feedback to BT. 

 

Kiosks proposed for removal by BT with DDC Decisions

Kiosk Name

DDC Proposed Decision

DDC Reason

O/S POST OFFICE PCO1 UPPER STREET KINGSDOWN DEAL

Object to removal of kiosk. No objection to removal of telephony equipment

Kingsdown Parish Council, residents and Senior Heritage Officer objected to the removal of the kiosk, which the PC have expressed a wish to adopt. The kiosk should therefore be retained.

 JCT SANDOWN RD PCO1 GODWYN ROAD, DEAL

No objection to removal of kiosk or telephony equipment

Deal Town Council agreed to removal of kiosk and telephony equipment due to the lack of usage.

 JCN ARCHERS COURT RD PCO1 CRANLEIGH DRIVE WHITFIELD DOVER

Object to removal of kiosk and telephony equipment

Whitfield Parish Council objected to the removal of the telephone due to its proximity to the new school site and busy Archers Court Road where the PC is often made aware of speeding traffic. The phone should therefore be retained to be available for use in case of an emergency.

 

A Copy of the BT notice can be found Here

 

 

Comments from the first stage of consultation which ran from 24 July to 24 August 2023 can be viewed in the Stage 1 spreadsheet.

Comments from the second stage of consultation which ran from 11th September to 5th october 2023 can be viewed in the Stage 2 spreadsheet.

For Further information please contact:

PlanningPolicy@DOVER.GOV.UK

 01304 872244