End of the line for local phone boxes
Time is running out for threatened telephone boxes, with a decision on the future of nearly 180 kiosks in the South West about to be taken.
Consultation on the removal of the pay phones is about to end, with many towns and villages in South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset likely to see their kiosks disappear.
They include a number of traditional red phone boxes, considered icons of Britain.
BT has already taken away 31,000 boxes around the country since 2002 and wants to remove thousands more to save money.
It said the rise in popularity of the mobile phone had made kiosks increasingly unprofitable.
About 90 per cent of people have a mobile phone and BT said 60 per cent of kiosks were not making money.
Some kiosks registered less than one call a month but it costs about £1,000 a year to maintain each box.
South Gloucestershire will be worst hit if BT's plans go through, losing half of its 143 phone boxes.
The company said 59 kiosks were subject to consultation, with another 13 definitely going because they were within 400 metres (437 yards) of another kiosk.
North Somerset has 158 kiosks and will lose 11, with consultation taking place on 42.
Bath and North East Somerset has 40 under consultation and will definitely see another 11 axed.
Bristol is not included in this round of consultation.
Matthew Riddle, Conservative councillor for the Severn ward in South Gloucestershire, said: "In my ward there are 11 boxes, nine of which will be removed."
His Boyd Valley colleague Sandra Grant, said: "I appreciate more people have mobile phones but many elderly and vulnerable residents still rely on public phone boxes.
"They may not make a profit but they are valued by those who need to use them."
BT said there would have to be good reasons to keep a kiosk operating.
But it said all views would be considered as part of the consultation process, which closes on Sunday, August 31.
It said kiosks of all designs were being looked at and any that were listed would remain.
Despite the High Street in Hanham being a busy spot, the only phone kiosk in the road remained unused while the Evening Post spoke to local people about the BT plans.
Some claimed they had never seen anyone in the box, while others said they had seen it used, often by people waiting for a bus.
Sales adviser Jane Higgs, 50, who lives in Hanham, said: "I use it myself occasionally, even though I've got a mobile, and I think it should be kept.
"If they get rid of this one and the one in Memorial Road, there won't be any others for people to use."
3 Comments
by Jacqueline, Bristol
Thursday, August 28 2008, 2:10PM
“I know elderly people who do not have either a landline or mobile phone and rely heavily on phone boxes. What is going to happen to them when these are removed. What happens if your mobile phone battery runs out and you need to make an emergency call? What are we doing to this country? Totally ruining it thats what!”
by Steve, North Bristol
Thursday, August 28 2008, 1:03PM
“Telephone boxes have become an anachronism. As most people have either a mobile or landline at home, then the only thing telephone boxes are being used for is arragning drug deals or the exchange of stolen goods; public lavatories; brothels or by tramps as a bedroom for the night. The sooner they are all removed, the better.”
by lorraine, south glous
Thursday, August 28 2008, 11:09AM
“i tryed to use a phone box the other day because my mobile was playing up but it only took phone cards and i didnt have one of those so i had to wait”