Plans revealed for BT street hubs around Cirencester and near Tesco

British Telecom (BT) has requested permission from Cotswold District Council to bring street hubs around the town centre. 

The double-sided units - proposed in Dyer Street, Cricklade Street and in the Brewery Car Park near Tesco - would bring free WiFi, free calls and a place for people to charge their mobile phones.

Existing phone boxes in Coates Lane, the Brewery Car Park near Tesco, and Spitalgate Lane would be removed. 

Commercial, community, and local council content would be displayed on the hubs at 10-second intervals.

An artist's impression of a proposed BT Street Hub in West Way off Cricklade Street (Image: BT)

Each hub also includes an interactive tablet that can be used to access local council services, maps, and local weather information. 

The application says the street hub advertisement would be active until January 2028.

Council documents also reveal that the display is powered by 100% renewable carbon-free energy.

An artist's impression of a proposed BT Street Hub in action (Image: BT)

In the application BT claims street hubs combat anti-social behaviour by blocking suspicious call patterns and numbers if a unit is being misused for illegal activity.

BT head of street James Brown said: "The free digital services provided by our street hub units can play an important role in helping revive the UK's high streets following the pandemic."
You can comment on the plans by visiting the district council’s planning website and search 23/00256/FUL (Dyer Street), 23/00258/FUL (Cricklade Street) and 23/00199/FUL (Brewery Car Park).