THE installation of a 'communications kiosk with an automated external defibrillator (AED) in the middle of a borough town's shopping street pavement has prompted local criticism.

The kiosk has been placed on the pavement on King Street, Stanford-le-Hope after winning planning approval from Thurrock council officers last year.

Two almost identical proposals (25/00955/FUL and 25/00956/ADV) for the kiosk were submitted by applicant NWP Street Ltd on the same day last August and both were approved in October.

The company also submitted applications for four other kiosks in South Ockendon, Tilbury and Grays (two on the High Street). All have been approved.

In their submission NWP said: "New World Payphones (NWP Street Ltd) is modernising its telephone kiosk estate across the UK.

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

"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 kiosks will be a multi-communication hub for the future. Telephony is still a key provision; it is an important lifeline for many people even with the provision of mobile phone use.

"The kiosk will offer the additional benefit of touchscreen information to assist users with wayfinding./mapping information."

The screen on the unit will carry commercial advertising, but NWP add:" Proposals include granting the not-for-profit use of the advertising display, for example local service announcements, public health messages and so on. in addition, the displays would be available for emergency incident messaging."

Regarding provision of a defibrillator, NWP says: "NWP is partnered with a charity working to support communities in the provision of defibrillators. once installed the defibrillator would be registered on the national network known as the circuit, thereby ensuring its precise location is known to ambulance services."

The company summarised by saying: "The kiosks represent a fundamental improvement in amenity terms."

The new kiosk in Stanford has sparked considerable debate on local social media.

Many residents have criticised its design and location, though others have welcomed what they describe as a potential lifesaving installation.

For example, one resident said: "Who in their right mind would put that where it is what a eyesore!!Stanford looks a mess as it is without adding monstrosities, why not put the machine on a wall like most places? – but that argument was countered with: "Sorry you died, but a local resident didn't want an eyesore. It's not like we want life-saving equipment to be easy to find and use."

Across Thurrock the Katie's Heart Appeal charity has installed many defibrillators that are accessible for the public and mainatined by the charity. Only last week it installed one in Horndon on the Hill.

Charity founder Charlotte Davies has been critical of the new kiosk and questions their validity and usefulness, saying: "These "phone box" defibrillators popping up all over the borough are nothing to do with Katie's Heart Appeal or the Community First Responders!

"These are being placed in absurd locations - as in 30 seconds away from public AEDs already installed.

"The cabinet is so low to the ground. There doesn't appear to be room for a defibrillator, let alone a resus kit or a bleed control kit! It has a combination lock that is black!

"I'd just like to add, I checked the Circuit last night (Monday 20 July) and it's not even registered on the database so no one will even be able to access it anyway."