NEW-design phone boxes are to be banned in Edinburgh amid fears they will harm one of the key tenets of the city's World Heritage Site status.
The latest incarnation of the famous red phone box has been recommended to be refused planning permission by officials in the Scottish capital as a result.
The first dozen of the new hi-tech kiosks, which provide free wi-fi, calls and phone charging through advertising, backed for rejection will go before councillors today.
Above: InLink, London
Residents have claimed the kiosks are inappropriate in the sensitive surroundings of Georgian listed buildings setting of the New Town, where all 12 are planned, as opponents cited the need to tackle concerns over the impact of street clutter in the World Heritage Site.
READ MORE: Anger at plan for 8ft advertising columns in World Heritage site
Public comments included that the proposal is "inappropriate for the World Heritage Site" and that "the proposed unit will add to street clutter and is visually intrusive".
The council said the proposal "will adversely affect the special character and appearance of the conservation area, it will have an adverse impact on the setting of the listed buildings" and "it will harm the outstanding universal value of the World Heritage Site" - one of the central tenets underpinning the coveted status.
Above: George Street site, Edinburgh. Image: Google
BT said it was disappointed by the Edinburgh move and added the kiosks it has set up with partner InLink mean more space on pavements, as on average, they replace two standard modern phone boxes, as well as free calls.
The telecoms giant also stressed it was the modern phone boxes and not the remaining red phone boxes that are being replaced.
READ MORE: Blanket ban on ad boards for Edinburgh's historic streets wanted by heritage watchdog
Terry Levinthal, director of the leading civic body the Cockburn Association, said: "What this is suggesting is that the council is trying to get to grips with the problem of excessive street clutter.
Above: The new incarnation of the phone box, left, and, right, the iconic red phone box - which is not affected by the plan
"It is my understanding that it is the intention as well to introduce city centre-wide w-fi and in the context of the omnipotence of smartphone technology and free wi-fi for residents and businesses so it would take away the need for some of these things as well.”
Above: The phones that would be replaced by the InLink in George Street, Edinburgh. Image: Google
The Edinburgh World Heritage Trust said it "fully support the council’s comment and guidance".
A City of Edinburgh Council spokesperson said: “These applications will be considered by members of the council’s development management sub-committee today."
Above: Glasgow
The 2.9 metre (9ft 6in) kiosk, the latest version of the phone box spawned from the iconic red boxes, was launched on Tuesday in Buchanan Street in Glasgow, where a further 11 are planned.
Glasgow is the second city outside of London to have the new service.
READ MORE: Former Hogmanay chief slams 'tartanising' of streets
BT and InLlinkUK partnership said in a statement: "As InLinks would offer the people of Edinburgh a significant range of free services, including ultrafast wi-fi, phone calls and mobile charging, and we’ve been working with the council to develop our proposals, we’re disappointed that the council has apparently decided to decline 12 of our applications.
"We’ll review their feedback before we decide what to do next.
“More than 100,000 people have subscribed to the free wi-fi and there have been over 2.5m wi-fi sessions.
Above: Camden, London
"We have also saved the public over £352,000 providing over 33,000 free calls a week.
"The InLinks’ free services are paid for by advertising on the digital screens, which local councils have also used to communicate with local residents in the boroughs and cities we are in.
"Additionally, InLinks are freeing up space on the pavement, as on average every new InLink replaces two old phone boxes.”
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