Consultation on removal of BT payphones
30th September 2016
Public opinion is being sought by The Highland Council on BT's proposal to remove 178 public payphones from across the Highland region.
The Council has today (30 September) launched an online consultation.
Regulation set out by Ofcom, the independent regulator, states that local authorities have the responsibility to co-ordinate consultations to gather views about proposed pay-phone removals.
The Council is encouraging members of the public to look at BT's proposals and comment, giving as much information as possible. To comply with Ofcom guidelines the Council will undertake a two-stage consultation where communities and other stakeholders will have the opportunity to object or agree to the proposed changes. The first stage will invite comments on the proposed removals.
Following the first stage, a first notice of decision will be published which will outline Highland Council's initial position on the proposed removals. Communities and stakeholders will then be invited to consider the first notice of decision and then be given a further opportunity to comment on the proposed changes.
Highland Council Leader, Cllr Margaret Davidson said: "Let's be clear that this is BT's proposals that we are consulting on and Highland Council is keen to know public opinion on all of these phones
"It’s important that as many people as possible reply to the survey so that we can build an accurate picture of individuals’ and community views and needs.
She added: "I urge members of the public to respond to the consultation. People living in the areas of proposed closures are in the best position to know the impact the removal of a payphone would have on them and their community."
The first stage of the consultation is available at: http://consult.highland.gov.uk/portal/dp/teleconsult/payphoneconsult
and will be open until 5pm on 24 October 2016.
An interactive map showing the location of the public payphones up for removal is available from this link
http://highland.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=d0378d4b8d9542189a56bf357f677cc9
For further information or questions about the consultation, please contact the Highland Council Policy Unit at policy6@highland.gov.uk or phone 01463 702006.
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