Wednesday 23rd July 2008
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K6 Defence Campaign enters the House of Commons
Congratulations to neighbouring Newcastle-under-Lyme MP, Paul Farrelly, for tabling Early Day Motion 2125 regarding BT's current consultation period (ends 6th September 2008) about their proposal to remove some 4,500 public payphones nationwide, a large proportion of which will be the classic Sir Giles Gilbert Scott designed Jubilee K6 red kiosk, like the one pictured near Swythamly in the Staffordshire Moorlands.
EDM 2125 posted 21/07/08 reads: That this House notes that British Telecom has launched a consultation regarding the possible closure of up to 4,500 telephone boxes across the country; recognises, with the take-up of mobile telephones particularly, that many of these are becoming increasingly uneconomic and that BT has to strike a balance between subsidy and provision of a national service; notes, however, many are in rural areas, where they provide a reassuring presence in the event of an emergency; further notes that many are classic red boxes, based on Giles Gilbert Scott's iconic 1924 design, and are viewed as an important part of our country's heritage; further notes that English Heritage has received over 200 listing applications for such boxes since the consultation began; welcomes, therefore, BT's commitment to review separately the removal of any boxes to which local councils object; urges local parishes and councils to participate fully in the consultation process; and hopes that talks between BT, English Heritage, the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, VisitBritain and other interested bodies will provide a solution for the physical retention, at least, of classic red telephone boxes, where this is desired by local communities as part of the country's heritage.
Stoke Central's Mark Fisher and Congleton's Ann Winterton are two of the 26 who have signed to date. Please urge your MP to add their support to the EDM. Also encourage them to write to BT's Chair, Sir Michael Rake, to get a commitment from him to meet national heritage groups and national associations of local councils to produce a positive solution so that the red K6 kiosks remain in place.
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Newcastle's Cabinet considered a report yesterday morning and agreed that the portfolio holder for Safer & Stronger Communities would formulate a response having regard to the comments forwarded from the Borough's Parish Councils. The parishes had indicated support for retaining the boxes in their communities from the cultural heritage perspective as well as in need of emergencies, it will be interesting to see how the final response is delivered.