Modern phone boxes planned for town

Modern phone boxes with emergency defibrillators and touchscreen maps could soon appear on Barnsley's streets under plans lodged with the council.

Twelve planning applications have been submitted by New World Payphones (NWP Street Ltd), seeking permission to install the kiosks across the town.

The company said the "multi-communication hubs" would provide telephone services, maps and contactless payments.

"The traditional kiosk is in need of updating to reflect the modern society that we live in," the application said.

"NWP recognise legacy kiosks have historic problems including lack of access for wheelchair users, problems with calling cards, and often attract the use of anti-social behaviour," the company said.

The new phone boxes would have a "modern design" but remind users of the "instantly recognisable telephone kiosk heritage," a spokesperson added.

The kiosks would be installed at locations including Peel Street, Queen Street, Shambles Street, Sheffield Road, and outside Barnsley Interchange, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Unlike traditional kiosks, the stainless steel units would be wheelchair accessible and cleaned and maintained every two weeks.

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