BT To Remove 24 Phone Kiosks Across the Borough

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Council not exercising local veto and welcomes decision

One of the phone kiosks in the borough to be removed. Picture: Google Streetview

BT have contacted Wandsworth Council to inform them of its intention to remove 24 phone kiosks across the borough.

Under OFCOM regulations a local authority can veto such a request from the telecoms company but the council is supporting the decision saying that councillors have submitted numerous requests to have them removed.

The borough’s transport and highways spokesman Cllr John Locker said, “These kiosks can often become a blight on our streets because they attract litter and are often vandalised or attract anti-social behaviour.

“They are hardly ever used in this day and age and they simply represent unnecessary obstacles and clutter on our streets.

“We dedicate a lot of time and effort in keeping our borough clean, our pavements in good order and our town centres attractive and these eyesore kiosks simply detract from this good work.”

Over 90% of people in the UK now own a mobile phone but studies show that phone kiosks are still used by children, the elderly, those on low incomes who can’t afford a mobile phone and people in emergencies when smartphone batteries go flat.

Telecoms companies can remove kiosks without approval if there is another one within 400 metres but must get local authority approval if not as well as informing the public of their intention.

The following kiosks are being removed:

• Moyser Road at the junction with Nimrod Drive
• Southcroft Road at the junction with Freshwater Road
• Inner Park Road
• Aubyn Square
• Biggs Row
• Wimbledon Parkside at the junction with Inner Park Road
• Replingham Road
• Montfort Place
• Beaumont Road
• Merton Road outside Coronation Gardens
• Garratt Lane at the junction with Maskell Road
• Wimbledon Road
• Hazelhurst Road
• Franciscan Road
• Upper Tooting Road
• Tooting Bec Road x2
• Bedford Hill
• Nightingale Road x2
• Honeywell road at the junction with Bolingbroke Grove
• Sunbury Lane at the junction with Battersea Church Road
• Stewarts Road
• Aldrington Road at the junction with Ullathorne Road

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September 9, 2021