BCP Council rejects three out of four BT Street Hubs for Christchurch

THREE out of four BT Street Hubs which were planned for Christchurch have been refused planning permission by BCP Council which branded them as “incongruous, unsympathetic and an unnecessarily prominent introduction to the high street.”

The hubs, which provide free Wi-Fi while also acting as LED advertising posters, were to be erected on the pavement outside Subway and Santander on the high street and in front of Milletts in Saxon Square.

A report by the council stated that BT had included “a short and rather inaccurate description of the high street” as being mainly a mix of large modern office buildings.

It said in fact the hubs would be “out of keeping with the character and appearance of the Christchurch Central Conservation Area”.

The council did allow one unit to be set up in Saxon Square outside WH Smith, saying: “It will not look incongruous in the precinct due to existing street furniture surrounding and the relatively modern appearance of the shopping centre.”