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BT plans to remove 7 payphones from the SW15 area
Tony Colman
has received notification of a consultation by BT on removing 7 payphones
from the Putney area.
He would like to highlight this to constituents and encourage those who
have views on the matter to write to Wandsworth Council's planning department:
Planning Department, Wandsworth Town Hall, Wandsworth High Street, London,
SW18 2PU.
The letter
Tony received from BT read:
"BT
is currently reviewing the number of public payphones across the country
and I want to inform you of the impact on Putney. We have also informed
local authorities and all parish councils of any changes to the number
of payphones.
The
increase in mobile phone ownership has led to a complete culture change
in communication and far fewer people now use public payphones. Over the
last three years, the number of calls made from BT payphones has almost
halved and the revenue of payphones has dropped by 41%. Furthermore, of
the 72,000 street payphones in Great Britain, only 30,000 are profitable,
with the remaining 42,000 being unprofitable. Yet despite these commercial
challenges, BT is very conscious of its social obligations and has pledged
its commitment to retain a payphone service across the country for people
who depend on it.
In
your constituency there are 88 payphones and we plan to remove 7. 81 profitable
payphones will remain. We recognise that there may be concerns about our
plans, but through extensive consultation with local representatives we
aim to cause as little inconvenience as possible.
Possible
removals:
| Number |
Location |
Post
Code |
020 88744023 |
West
Hill/Amerland Road |
SW18
1PZ |
| 020
87889478 |
Sefton
St/Horne Way |
SW15
1HX |
| 020
87883982 |
Adj 2-58 Glen Albyn Road |
SW19
6HD |
| 020
88742968 |
Wandsworth Fire Station, West Hill |
SW18
1RL |
| 020
87802118 |
Embankment/Lower Richmond Rd |
SW15
1LB |
| 020
87802124 |
Putney
Leisure Centre, Upper Richmond Rd |
SW15
2RD |
| 020
87802469 |
Charlwood Road/Upper Richmond Rd |
SW15
1PJ |
As a Universal Service Provider, Bt is obliged to follow a formal consultation
process, agreed with Ofcom, prior to removing any public payphone where
there is not an alternative within 100metres. We wrote to the local planning
authority and town, parish or community council on 1 July with details
of our intention to remove certain payphones together with a map and list
of all kiosks in the area. At the same time we placed a notice in the
phone box identified for removal so that members of the general public
are aware of our intentions. We ask the local planning authority and council
for written responses to our letters within a 42 day period and via the
notices we inform our customers and the general public to send their comments
to the local planning authority. If we do not receive any responses within
the 42 day consultation period, we progress the plans to remove the kiosk.
BT takes note of all objections raised during the consultation period
and in these circumstances will work with the local authority and parish
council to achieve a mutually acceptable solution."
The consultation
in Putney began on 1 July and comments should be sent to the Local Authority
by 11 August.
July 14, 2004
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