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BT has installed three of its controversial digital street hubs in Ipswich town centre. The 75" digital advertising boards with built-in public services have faced opposition in other parts of the country, with many councils rejecting multiple planning applications.
The big picture: The new street hubs can be found at:
Butter Market (outside Tooth Club)
Westgate Street (at the end of the street)
Tower Ramparts bus station (outside Sailmakers Shopping Centre)
Why it matters: While the hubs provide free public services, they also represent a growing trend of digital advertising taking over town centres that has proved controversial in other parts of the UK.
What they offer:
Ultrafast Wi-Fi with speeds up to 1Gbps
Free UK landline and mobile calls
Two waterproof USB charging ports with Quick Charge 2.0
Touch-screen tablet for accessing council services
Emergency 999 button with location tracking
75-inch screens displaying advertisements
Yes, but: The hubs have faced opposition elsewhere. Previous applications in other areas have raised concerns about the potential misuse of free calls, maintenance responsibilities, pavement obstruction, and the impact of large advertising displays on street scenes.
Edinburgh council has rejected over 30 applications in the last six years, calling them an “unacceptable and unnecessary intrusion into the streetscape which would result in advertisement clutter.”
In 2022, Brighton and Hove Council rejected applications for six hubs, with planning officers citing concerns about street clutter and pedestrian congestion.
Earlier this year, Swindon Borough Council also rejected a proposal for two hubs, saying “The proposed LCD screen advertisement would be prejudicial to highway safety by virtue of their luminance levels, which would interfere with and/or dazzle drivers on the public highway, and would therefore be prejudicial to road safety,” while also citing concerns about street clutter and pedestrian traffic.
What's next: The new hubs, currently under covers, will be made accessible to the public soon.
The bottom line: While providing some public services, the introduction of 75" digital advertising boards, especially in prominent high street locations, will likely be divisive amongst residents and shoppers, and shines a light on the ongoing debate about the changing face of UK high streets.
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