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Calls to introduce new phone kiosks in Broxburn and Bathgate, two towns in West Lothian, have been denied by local councillors due to concerns over advertising and street clutter.
The proposed kiosks, which are designed to include defibrillators, were described by councillors as resembling modern advertising billboards rather than traditional telephone boxes. The Local Review Body backed a previous decision by planners to reject the plans after New World Payphones appealed the refusal of planning consent for the kiosks, providing over 100 pages of reasoning to support their case.
Councillor Tony Boyle, representing Broxburn, expressed opposition to the appeal for a kiosk at 122 East Main Street, stating, “It is the wrong thing in the wrong place.” In Bathgate, Councillor Willie Boyle remarked on the original intention behind installing a pedestrian precinct over 30 years ago to reduce clutter in the area. He stated, “I don’t see why all of a sudden there’s a need for public telephone boxes and I don’t see the justification for more advertising,” referencing the ongoing issue of excessive commercial advertising seen in local shop windows.
Councillor Pauline Orr highlighted that Bathgate’s Steelyard is meant to be an open, welcoming space, and added concern that the proposed structure would contribute to street clutter. She noted that most people now carry mobile phones and that a defibrillator could be placed in a less noticeable location.
Planners had rejected New World Payphones’ proposal, indicating that the kiosks would negatively affect the public realm’s aesthetic and public amenities. The planners stated, “no compelling locational, cultural, or heritage justification has been submitted to support the siting of the development in this location,” asserting that the kiosks would disrupt the visual quality and character of the streetscape.
In their appeal, New World Payphones maintained that their designs were intended to align with traditional street architecture, claiming that the kiosks were multifunctional, including emergency services in their remit. The company argued that new national planning policies encourage improvements in digital communications, underscoring their importance in supporting communities and public services.
