| BT
Phone Kiosk to be removed
|
Following
the Parish Council meeting on the 3rd September, a consultation
process was initiated in the village. Posters outlining
the options available were posted on notice boards and the
website and a leaflet drop was made soliciting community
opinion by the 10th October. The BT deadline for Parish
Council intervention was 1st November.
The Parish Council received only four responses, two in
favour of adoption, one in favour of sponsorship and one
encouraging it's disposal.
Councillors determined that the lack of use and active support
for keeping the payphone did not warrant Parish Council
expenditure and thus allowed the deadline to pass. This
decision was ratified by full council on the 5th November.
The payphone will therefore be removed by BT in due course.
|
| Alan
Breadmore
Clerk
to East Garston Parish Council |
|
| At
the Parish Council Meeting on the 3rd September the response
from BT reference
East Garston Pay Phone Box was considered.
|
As
you probably know, BT has proposed to remove the Payphone
in Humphreys Lane. Following representations by the Parish
Council and West Berks Council, this decision was delayed
pending investigation of the financial and social implications.
Data has now been provided by BT stating that, in the past
12 months the East Garston Payphone had been used for 6
(six) calls. The Parish Council have therefore decided that
they feel unable to pressure BT any more given the low level
of usage.
However BT is offering Parish Councils two options regarding
"rescuing" at-risk Payphone boxes.
1) Sponsor a Kiosk – which would allow Parish Councils
to subsidise the maintenance of a kiosk for an annual
fee of £500 and thus keep the Payphone.
2) Adopt a Kiosk – which would allow Parish Councils
to "buy" the Phone box (without telephony) as
a piece of architectural heritage for £1. In addition
there would be a cost to the Parish of approx £50-£75
per annum for electricity, maintenance, insurance etc.
The Parish Council’s current position is that option
1 would not be viable since there is clearly no demand.
They are considering whether option 2 is desirable and
are anxious to know parishioners’ views before making
a decision.
You may also be interested to know that the East Garston
Parish Community Plan Group are investigating ways in
which mobile phone reception in the village may be improved.
If you wish your opinions re the Payphone box to be taken
into account by the Parish Council, positive or negative
then please contact;
Alan Breadmore
Lime Tree Cottage
Back Street
East Garston
Hungerford, RG17 7EY
Clerk to East Garston Parish Council
Tel: 01488 648851
Email: egpc@breadmore.me.uk
No later than Friday 10th October
2008
|
|
|
| At
the Parish Council Meeting on the 3rd September the response
from BT reference
East Garston Pay Phone Box was considered.
|
In
simple terms BT provided the data requested regarding the
usage of the Pay Phone. The answer was that in the past
12 month the East Garston Pay Phone had been used for 6
(six) calls. BT also outlined that that they will be offering
Parish Councils two options regarding "rescuing"
at-risk pay phone boxes.
1) Allowing Parish Councils to "take over" the
management of local call boxes for an annual rent, (and
of course keeping the revenue). The detail is not yet established
but this rent is likely to be of the order of £500.
2) Allowing Parish Councils to "buy" the Phone
box (without telephony) as a piece of architectural heritage
for a nominal amount - possibly £1. The maintenance
would then become the responsibility of the Parish.
The Parish Council's position on this is that at first sight
they feel unable to pressure BT any more given the low level
of usage and are prepared to go into local consultation
regarding either of the above proposals once the full details
are available. I will keep you informed.
|
Alan
Breadmore
Clerk
to East Garston Parish Council |
| I have been
informed today, 26th of June, that West Berks have exercised
their power of local veto under the Communications Act 2003
citing the evidence of the Parish Council. However this
is not necessarily a total reprieve, BT have been asked
to provide 5 year usage data for the phone box so that the
business case can be better understood and WBC will then
enter further consultation in the village. However in the
short term the box stays. I'll keep you informed. |
Alan Breadmore
Clerk
to East Garston Parish Council |
West
Berks have confirmed to me that they have received the representations
from the Parish Council and that these will be included
in the consultation process. The consultation process will
continue for another 3 weeks and input from individuals
and organisations is welcome (encouraged). You may know
that virtually all of the phone boxes in the valley are
under threat so this is becoming a key issue. If you feel
strongly, you should make your own representation to the
consultation process by writing to WBC. The contact is Lee
McQuade, lmcquade@westberks.gov.uk |
Alan
Breadmore
Clerk
to East Garston Parish Council |
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