CONTROVERSIAL plans for BT street hubs have been refused by city council planners.
The telecoms giant had applied for five hubs across Winchester city centre, which would have replaced the more traditional phone boxes.
However, the plans faced significant opposition from residents and businesses.
Local campaigner George Prest welcomed the decision. He said: “This is a victory for common sense and we welcome the decision wholeheartedly. Those screens had no place on our historic High Street and their refusal represents a preservation of everything we hold dear.”
A petition attracted more than 210 signatures.
Mr Prest said: “We gathered local voices based on the fact that the screens were ugly, intrusive and redundant in an age of smartphones. The last thing Winchester needs is a series of digital advertising monoliths getting the way of city life. Thank you to everyone who signed the petition.”
The five hubs each received between 55 and 79 objecting comments, with none in support.
READ MORE: Winchester campaigners call on BT to scrap plans for street hubs
In the planning officer's report, it said: “Winchester is a compact city with medieval street patterns. The proposed location of this hub is located at a busy junction of the High Street/Jewry Street/St George's Street, with very high levels of pedestrian footfall. The streets provide movement and place with Winchester holding a street market through the week narrowing the available space, funnelling pedestrians considerably in the area proposed for the street hub.
“Winchester hosts a Christmas Market and other events throughout the year, which sees hundreds of thousands of extra visitors in an already very busy town centre, thereby increasing pedestrian congestion.
“The local planning authority has identified significant harm to public safety with the installation of a street hub in this location, by adding extra street clutter and obstacles to pedestrian and cycle movement. The five BT Hubs will be experienced by the tourist or user of the centre of Winchester as they span from the bottom of the High Street to the top.
“It is not considered that the public benefit or the aims to improve digital communications outweigh the harm identified in this respect, especially in such a significant heritage environment.”
BT has been asked for a comment.
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