Council Oppose BT Phone Box Removal
July 25, 2008
Further consultation will follow a reaction by residents, supported by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, to oppose the removal of over 30 public phone boxes across the county.
Following British Telecom’s announcement that it intends to remove 34 phone boxes, the Council is acting in line with guidance from communications watchdog Ofcom to determine whether it wishes to exercise its veto where there are valid and objective reasons.
As a result of this option, the authority immediately set to work attaining the views of its local communities via consultation.
This feedback has been used to form what is referred to as a First Notification and Schedule which sets out the Council’s draft decision in response to the BT proposals, which is to oppose them.
The decision was made after attaining the views of the community and their representatives on each of the 34 phone boxes, which are in Pontypridd, Pontyclun, Clydach Vale, Tonypandy, Mountain Ash, Tonyrefail, Treherbert, Treorchy, Ynysysbwl, Treforest, Nantgarw, Rhigos, Hirwaun, Penderyn, Aberdare and Llwydcoed.
In all cases, residents stated the phone boxes were a well valued community amenity and, in some cases, the proximity of the boxes to accident hotspots could be the difference between an incident being serious or fatal.
Responses were considered by the authority’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which has made its draft decision and generated another period of consultation. Following this further consultation period, the Council will submit its final decision to BT. It should be noted that BT has the right of appeal to the Competition Appeals Tribunal against this.
Those with views on the Council’s draft decision to support the consensus of public feeling are urged to submit them by August 25 to Chris Davies, Research and Consultation Manager, Strategic Policy and Continuous Improvement, Ty Elai, Dinas Isaf East, Williamstown, CF40 1NY, via 01443 444598 or policyenquiries@rhondda-cynon-taff.gov.uk
Add to favourites