Four new BT street hubs proposed for town
LDRSPlans have been submitted for four more BT street hubs in a town despite previous "drug issues" involving the exploitation of free call services.
The firm is planning to put the modern, digital replacements for traditional phone boxes, across Middlesbrough on Acklam Road, Newport Road, Benson Street and Marton Road.
BT said it was working to reduce "digital inequality".
It also said the scheme would give communities access to an "unprecedented" range of free services, such as "ultrafast" Wi-Fi, phone calls, and public messaging capabilities.
A "small" number of locations in the UK have drawn attention to "local drug issues".
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service this prompted investment from BT to develop call restrictions to prevent calls to mobiles on select street hubs in problem areas.
Since 2017, the firm said more than 900 hubs had gone live across the country with one outside Dovecot in central Middlesbrough.
In 2024, the company applied for retrospective permission to take down the existing phone box and install one of its street hubs, which was granted in a matter of months.
At the time, it was highlighted that calls to certain mobile numbers could be temporarily restricted if it had been proven that a street hub was being misused to buy drugs.
A street hub anti-social behaviour management plan was submitted with the application, in which BT said it was working with stakeholders to ensure the scheme made a "positive contribution".
The company also said it was "committed" to addressing the minority of users who "abuse" the service.
