BT plan to remove over 200 payphones across Shropshire
Over 200 public payphones in Shropshire are set be removed by BT, which believes they are no longer needed.
Over 200 public payphones in Shropshire are set be removed by BT, which believes they are no longer needed.
A 90% decrease in the use of payphones over the last decade is one of the reasons for their planned removal.
A spokesperson for BT said: “BT is committed to providing a public payphone service, but with usage declining by over 90 per cent in the last decade, we’ve continued to review and remove payphones which are no longer needed. Any removal of payphones is carried out in strict adherence to the Ofcom guidelines and, where appropriate, with the consent of local authorities.”
Shropshire Council has launched a consultation in response to the proposals, under regulations set out by the independent regulator Ofcom.
The local authority is encouraging people to study the proposed changes and comment, providing as much information as possible.
Notices of potential removal have been put up in kiosks under threat.
Cecilia Motley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for rural services and communities, said:
“In addition to the advantages of having a working pay phone, many communities consider their phone box as a landmark and something they wish to preserve. We know there are payphones where there have not been any calls made in the last 12 months, or indeed since the last time BT asked us about this in 2014. Nonetheless, some areas have a real social need to keep the telephony, particularly if mobile/broadband signals are very poor, or for example, in accident blackspots.
“Whether communities wish to retain a telephony service, adopt the physical kiosk, or feel the time has come for removal, I would urge anyone with an interest to speak up as part of this consultation.
“I would also stress that payphones that have been saved as a result of previous consultations may well be under threat once more, so it is important to engage with us again.”
The basis for any decision must be backed up by recording the views of local people that are likely to be affected by this proposal. To ensure each community’s options are fully understood, help and advice is available through Shropshire Council’s community enablement officers that can be contacted via email community.enablement@shropshire.gov.uk or call 01743 253077.
The formal consultation runs through until January 2017, but individuals and groups are being advised to make their thoughts known ahead of an initial stocktake on Monday 28 November 2016.
There is then a further chance for local communities to comment on the Council’s provisional view before the final decisions are made and sent to BT in January 2017.
As part of the consultation Shropshire Council is also looking for views about mobile phone coverage to add to ongoing efforts to secure 100% digital connectivity across Shropshire.
