Closure fears for 89 phone boxes
Nearly 90 phone boxes across Shropshire are facing the axe after BT announced many are never used due to the popularity of mobile phones. Nearly 90 phone boxes across Shropshire are facing the axe after BT announced many are never used due to the popularity of mobile phones. The 89 boxes under review are currently being consulted on by BT and councils across the county. A 90-day consultation period ended in North Shropshire, Bridgnorth and Oswestry on July 18, and will end in Shrewsbury and Atcham on September 7, and in Telford & Wrekin on September 24. BT have said they will be analysing all feedback they receive. In Shrewsbury and Atcham 16 are set to be axed but BT claim six of these have been used 13 times or less in the past 12 months. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star.
Nearly 90 phone boxes across Shropshire are facing the axe after BT announced many are never used due to the popularity of mobile phones.
The 89 boxes under review are currently being consulted on by BT and councils across the county.
A 90-day consultation period ended in North Shropshire, Bridgnorth and Oswestry on July 18, and will end in Shrewsbury and Atcham on September 7, and in Telford & Wrekin on September 24.
BT have said they will be analysing all feedback they receive.
In Shrewsbury and Atcham 16 are set to be axed but BT claim six of these have been used 13 times or less in the past 12 months.
In north Shropshire, where 21 could go, six have not been used at all in the last year. In Oswestry seven boxes are under review, three of which have been used nine times or less in 12 months; while Bridgnorth could lose 29 - 15 of which have been used six times or less in the same period.
A further 16 are set to go in Telford and Wrekin, 11 of which have been used 36 times or less in the last 12 months.
Emma Tennant, spokeswoman for BT, said: "BT is committed to providing a public payphone service, however over the years usage has declined.
"BT has therefore been constantly reviewing and where necessary rationalising its public payphone estate in order to meet demand.
"Almost 60 per cent of our payphones are unprofitable, with almost 6,000 phones making less than one call a month, and more than 50 per cent making less than one call a week.
"Payphone usage has halved in the last two years and calls are still declining at 20 per cent year on year.
"Any removal of unprofitable payphones is carried out in strict adherence to Ofcom guidelines and where appropriate with the consent of the local communities."
Members of Pontesbury Parish Council said phone boxes are a vital service to a few residents. The area could lose three phone boxes.
Councillor Yvonne Holyoak said: "Very few people do not have mobile phones and the few that do not need this service."
To take part in the consultation, email btp.authorisation.team@bt.com.
By Rhea Parsons
