Have your say on BT’s phone box removal proposals

British Telecom would like to remove five on-street payphones in various locations in the city as they are not being used enough. 

BT is seeking to find out what local people think about the plans.

All residents are encouraged to participate and tell us whether they agree or disagree with the proposed phone boxes being removed and the reasons why.

It doesn’t take long to provide your opinion and your views will help us provide a picture to BT of what people in the city think about their proposals.

The council is co-ordinating residents’ responses to the consultation on behalf of BT.

How to respond

Please send your comments by Wednesday 16 September by email to planning.comments@brighton-hove.gov.uk marked ‘Phone box removal – 08/2020.’ Please also identify the phone box telephone number of the phone box you are commenting about. 

You can also write to Head of Planning, City Development and Regeneration, Hove Town Hall, Norton Road, Hove, BN3 3BQ.

The proposals will also be shared with the ward councillors for each location.

Phone box locations

  • 01273 508854 Junction of The Droveway, opposite 51 Goldstone Crescent, Hove BN3  6LR (0 average calls per month)
  • 01273 771971 Outside 1 Richardson Road, Hove BN3  5RB (7 average calls per month)   
  • 01273 505352 Outside Asda superstore, 1 Crowhurst Road, Brighton BN1  8AS (4 average calls per month) 
  • 01273 508820 Junction of Wilmington Parade opposite 167 Carden Avenue, Brighton BN1  8LA  (1 average call per month)  
  • 01273 607102 Junction of Bodiam Way outside 162 Heath Hill Avenue, Brighton BN2  4LS  (1 average call per month) 

All of the boxes concerned are modern kiosks and not the iconic red telephone boxes that can still be found in a few locations, mainly in the city centre. 

Use of payphones

Overall use of payphones has declined by over 90 per cent in the last decade and the need to provide payphones for use in emergency situations is diminishing all the time, with at least 98 per cent of the UK having mobile coverage.  

Ofcom’s research into consumer views on the importance of communications services and their affordability found that most people no longer view payphones as essential for consumers in most circumstances.

As long as there is mobile network coverage, it’s possible to call the emergency services, even when there is no coverage from your own mobile network provider.

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