Planning - consultations

We are committed to consulting with our customers on policies we are developing, such as supplementary guidance, development briefs and other policy issues. 

BT Consultation on the Removal of Payphones in West Lothian

BT Payphones has written to West Lothian Council as part of a formal consultation process with the local community on their proposed programme of public payphone removals.

The company states that the number of calls made from public payphones has more than halved in the last three years. Consequently, it wishes to consult on the removal of the 11 public payphones.

After having consulted with the community, West Lothian Council, in accordance with section 49 of the Communications Act 2003, has now issued a Final Decision which intimates that it objects to the removal of nine of the call boxes at the locations listed below.

Linburn House, Bonnington Road, Wilkieston, EH27 8BD
Craigrigg Cottages, Westfield, EH48 3DH
The Square, Torphichen, EH48 4LY
Philip Avenue, Bathgate, EH48 1NG
Main Street, Philpstoun, EH49 6RH
High Street, Linlithgow, EH49 7AA
Whitemoss Road, Kirknewton, EH27 8AF
Main Street, Newton, EH30 9TU
Seafield Primary School, Redhouse Road Seafield, EH47 7BL

The council does not propose to object to the removal of the payphones at:

Camps Rigg, Livingston, EH54 8PD
Torphichen Road, Bathgate, EH48 4LA

The Final Decision can be inspected at the Development Planning office at County Buildings, High Street, Linlithgow.

BT will now have the option of either abandoning their proposals or lodging appeals with the Competition Appeals Tribunal.

For more information on the process of payphone removal and what you can do to retain a payphone please visit the Ofcom website (new window).