Oral Answers to Questions

Ranil Jayawardena Excerpts

Thursday 14th September 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Ranil Jayawardena (North East Hampshire) (Con)]

3. If she will make it her policy to allow the installation of community ATMs in listed phone boxes without their having to first be de-listed.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (John Glen)]

Amending the listed status policy in the way that my hon. Friend suggests will not be possible, but the installation of community ATMs in listed phone boxes is possible provided listed building consent is granted by the relevant planning authority.

[Mr Jayawardena]

I thank my hon. Friend the Minister for that clear answer. BT provided a phone box cashpoint in Odiham in my constituency, and I have asked it to do the same in Hartley Wintney, but it is restricted by the listed status there. Will my hon. Friend meet me to discuss how the community benefit can be delivered either through amendments to the listed status or through other measures, which could prevent the boxes from being removed in future?

[John Glen]

I commend my hon. Friend on his determination to get this sorted. I will work with him and the residents of Hartley Wintney to look at what the local authority can do, because it is the prime mover and can provide the listed building consent that he seeks.