Salisbury City councillors slam plans for 'garish' BT Street Hubs

British Telecom (BT) proposed locations for the hubs at the footpaths outside 41 Blue Boar Row, Sarum Jewellers in New Canal, Poundland in High Street, and 35 Old George Mall.

However the Planning and Development Committee jointly objected to all of the plans, which were submitted to Wiltshire Council on December 13, 2022.

Independent councillor Annie Riddle, of the Harnham West ward, described the hubs as "undesirable", adding: "How can we say to shop owners that they can’t have garish illuminated signs and agree to garish illuminated six-foot monoliths?

"It doesn't sit well with the emerging Salisbury Neighbourhood Plan and its design code for the city centre."

Cllr Tom Corbin, mayor of Salisbury, echoed Cllr Riddle's concerns, he said: "It will be an ill-fitting electronic monolithic obscenity.

"The council is concerned that the totem design will quickly give a worn and untidy appearance and may attract vandalism."

Some of the plans would see the hubs put in a conservation area, in which the original appearance of the street would have to be preserved or enhanced.

Read more: BT submits plans to install Street Hubs in Salisbury

Labour Cllr Ian Tomes, of Harnham East, said the plans in the conservation area were a "step too far".

He added: "A lot of visitors come because we're a medieval city. We've got to make sure we keep that feel as much as possible."

Existing and proposed views of Street Hubs in Salisbury. (Image: BT planning application)

The plans have had 11 responses online from councillors and members of the public.

One of these came from conservation officer Andrew Minting, at Wiltshire Council, who said: "The black monolith would be a startlingly bold addition to the streetscape.

"Nothing has been submitted that demonstrates 'how the proposal will make a positive contribution to the character of Wiltshire'."

See more: Compasses Inn in Salisbury among top 100 gastropubs in UK

Disabled access on the High Street was highlighted as another point of objection by Conservative Cllr Cliona Hibbert, of St Francis and Stratford.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Alan Bayliss, of Milford, and Cllr Ian Tomes agreed that the hubs could be trialled in the Old George Mall since it isn't a conservation area.

Conservative Cllr Jo King, of Milford, was "absolutely dead against" BT's plans, she said: "Good gracious me, surely we can't have that in Salisbury. No way."

Read also: Amesbury taxi driver injured after driver allegedly crashed into her

Cllr Riddle suggested the hubs would be a potential target for crime in the city since people would be standing around charging their mobile phones.

The hubs would not be funded by the council. They are funded through digital advertisement revenue and aim to replace phone boxes across the UK.

The consultation deadline for the plans is February 2, 2023.