Rutland County Council planners refuse BT street hub proposal

Plans to install a BT Street Hub in a busy conservation area have been thrown out, partly because it would block double buggies and mobility scooters.

BT wanted to install the three-metre-high unit outside B&M on High Street in Oakham, but Rutland County Council rejected the idea.

The hub, which BT claims on its website would bring ‘free digital connectivity to your streets’ via a high-speed wifi connection, would also have had 75-inch-tall advertising displays on either side.

Development manager at Rutland County Council, Justin Johnson, said in his report that this was unacceptable: “The proposal would introduce a modern installation comprising large screens, at odds with the historic setting of a street leading towards the historic core of the town.

“There are older buildings in the locality, and the proposal would be at odds with these and would add to the street clutter which detracts from the buildings and settings.

“The proposal, by reason of siting, materials and design, would detract from the character and appearance of this part of the conservation area.

“Although there would be some public benefit through the proposal, this would not outweigh the visual harm.”

However, the visual aspect of the unit was only part of the reason for the refusal.

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As well as pointing out that permanent private advertising is not allowed on the county’s footpaths, Rutland’s highways department raised concerns that the hub’s size – 2.98 metres tall and 1.23 metres wide – would prove to be a safety hazard both on and off the pavement.

“The proposal would result in a heavily used pedestrian route being further restricted by the installation of this equipment and the positioning would result in large mobility vehicles and double buggies not being able to pass within the public highway at this location.

“The signage proposed would further restrict the available space, potentially causing pedestrians to walk on to the carriageway during peak times.

“Furthermore, the display on the equipment could result in driver distraction, even more so when the screen display is changed.”

BT can appeal the decision within six months to Steve Reed MP, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, who took over the role after former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner resigned in September.