New Digital Screens Approved for Barrow Town Centre Despite Police Concerns
Four new digital advertising screens and two public communication hubs have been approved for Barrow town centre despite concerns from Cumbria Police.
The 75-inch LCD screens will be installed on Dalton Road as part of a nationwide BT scheme replacing traditional telephone boxes with modern Street Hubs.
One hub will be positioned near McDonald’s, while the second will be close to the junction with Cavendish Street, near Specsavers.
Members of Barrow’s planning committee unanimously approved four applications connected to the project.
What Will the New Street Hubs Be Used For?
The two Street Hubs will provide free public Wi-Fi and allow people to make telephone calls.
Standard BT Street Hubs can also offer several other public services, including:
- Free calls to UK landlines and mobile numbers
- A dedicated button for contacting the emergency services
- Fast public Wi-Fi
- USB device charging
- Local maps and information
- Council and emergency announcements
- Digital advertising and community campaigns
The large screens can display commercial adverts alongside local information and public safety messages. Revenue from advertising is used to fund the installation and maintenance of the hubs, meaning the services can be provided without a direct cost to users or local taxpayers.
Some Street Hubs can also include environmental sensors that collect information about air quality, noise and traffic. However, it has not been confirmed whether the Barrow units will include these sensors.
BT describes the hubs as replacements for older phone boxes that can improve digital access within busy town and city centres. More information about BT Street Hubs is available on the company’s website.
Why Did Cumbria Police Object?
Cumbria Police objected to the plans because officers believed the hubs could increase the risk of anti-social behaviour on Dalton Road, particularly during the evening.
Barrow town centre has previously been identified as a hotspot for anti-social behaviour. Police have carried out additional patrols in the area through Operation Enhance, which targets locations experiencing higher levels of anti-social behaviour and serious violence.
The force’s objection appears to have focused on the risk that people could gather around the hubs or misuse the free facilities.
However, the planning officer advising councillors said the police concerns did not provide sufficient grounds to recommend refusing the applications.
A separate concern was also raised about the brightness of the digital screens. Councillors were told that the brightness could be controlled to reduce its effect on nearby properties, pedestrians and drivers.
Councillors Push Back Against Police Concerns
Several councillors strongly disagreed with the police objection.
Councillor Les Hall said he had seen similar hubs elsewhere and considered them a positive addition to high streets. He argued that Dalton Road needed as much support as possible and criticised the police’s position.
Councillor Hall also suggested that police had become disconnected from Barrow since moving their station away from the town centre.
Councillor Bill McEwan said dealing with problems connected to anti-social behaviour was a policing matter. He argued that councils would struggle to approve any new development if the possibility of anti-social behaviour was treated as a reason to refuse it.
The committee ultimately agreed that the potential concerns did not outweigh the expected benefits.
Could the Screens Benefit Dalton Road?
Dalton Road has faced many of the same challenges seen on high streets across the country, including empty shops, reduced footfall and changing shopping habits.
Supporters believe the new hubs could make the street more useful and welcoming by providing free connectivity, public information and advertising opportunities.
The screens may also give the council and emergency services another way to share important messages with people in the town centre.
However, their success will depend on how the units are managed after installation. The brightness of the screens, the type of advertising displayed and any anti-social behaviour around the hubs are likely to be closely watched.
Installation dates for the new screens and Street Hubs have not yet been confirmed.
