Communication hubs with large video screens that were ruled as intrusive and blocked from York could still come to the city’s streets.
The company behind plans for five hubs equipped with touchscreens, digital advertising, free wi-fi and defibrillators has appealed a decision to block their installation in York.
JCDecaux’s appeal to the Planning Inspectorate aims to overturn City of York Council’s decision in April to refuse plans for the hubs which the company wanted to install across the city centre.
Council officers blocked the plans due to them being close to historic buildings and over concerns about their impact on pedestrians and public spaces.
JCDecaux proposed installing them in Piccadilly, Davygate, Parliament Street and St Sampson’s Square.
Plans showed that they would feature feature an 86in (218cm) screen to display adverts on one side and a 32in (81cm) touchscreen and public phone on the other.
The touchscreen would display maps and it could also be used by local authorities to put out public information.
The hubs also included a phone, charging facilities and a dedicated emergency services contact function along with defibrillators which would all be solar-powered.
JCDecaux’s plans stated they were designed to be a more up-to-date version of public phone boxes and they had been used elsewhere to help promote charity appeals.
But the plans faced objections including from Make It York and the city’s Disability Rights Forum due to concerns about obstruction and their impact on events like the Christmas Market.
One objector described them as ‘glorified advertising boards’ while others claims they could leave York’s historic streets cluttered.
LDRS understands the Disability Rights Forum plans to lodge an objection to the latest appeal.
York-based disability activist Flick Williams said on social media efforts to block them were becoming a war of attrition.
The appeal follows a separate council decision to award a contract for the management of the city’s bus shelters and their advertising hoardings to rival firm Clear Channel UK.
JCDecaux previously held the contract but a decision to extend it was overturned following a council tendering error.
The appeal is open for public comments until Thursday, 10 July.
JCDecaux has not yet responded to requests for a comment.
