Dunfermline phone boxes to make way for digital services hub

BT will replace the existing kiosks outside Primark and O2 with a single Street Hub offering free public Wi-Fi, phone calls, USB charging points and emergency access.

The unit will also feature two digital display screens which can be used for advertising, community messaging and emergency alerts.

The telecommunications company said it would help "declutter" the area.

Council officers concluded the proposal was acceptable and would not have a detrimental impact on the character of Dunfermline Conservation Area, nor raise significant concerns regarding amenity or road safety.

What the new Street Hub will look like. (Image: Fife Council Planning Papers)

In a report approving the application, planning officials said the new hub would replace redundant street furniture while providing updated digital services.

The hub will stand just under three metres tall and contain two large digital screens along with an interactive tablet. It will provide public Wi-Fi and free phone calls.

The digital screens will display advertising, while also allowing space for community information and emergency messaging. BT has previously said advertising revenue would fund the hub's installation, maintenance and running costs.

One objection was received during the application process. The objector argued the hub would operate primarily as a digital advertising display rather than a public communications facility and questioned whether the infrastructure was needed.

However, council officers concluded the proposal would preserve the character of the conservation area and comply with planning policies.

Inside the current phone booth. (Image: Ian Moir)

In July, the Press reported that the booths had been damaged and covered in graffiti, despite being scheduled for removal.

Ian Moir, director of Fire Station Creative, had raised concerns about the state of the kiosks and said promised cleaning work had not been carried out.

Approval has been granted subject to a number of conditions, including requirements for the existing phone boxes to be removed within three months of development commencing and for the surrounding pavement to be fully reinstated.

The digital screens must not display moving images and their brightness will be restricted during hours of darkness.