Bell tolls for 214 of Shropshire's remaining phone boxes

Shropshire Council is appealing for people to have their say on a proposal by BT to remove 214 public payphones around the county.

The council said while some communities will find that a payphone is of little or no use to them today, it would encourage careful consideration because the removal of the facility will be permanent.

Formal consultation runs until January, although the council has urged individuals and groups to make their thoughts known ahead of an initial stock take on November 28.

There will then be 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.

Today's announcement comes following a series of closures in recent years. A number were taken out of use in February last year, although a number of communities kept their red boxes including Bushmoor and Acton Scott near Church Stretton, Easthope near Much Wenlock, and Prees and Ightfield near Whitchurch.

As the local planning authority, Shropshire Council has the right to object to the removal of phone boxes in any particular area.

It is also able to demand that the physical structure of a kiosk be kept, even if the phone is removed, particularly if the box is of a traditional red design.

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 past time BT asked us about this in 2014.

"Nonetheless, some areas have a real social need to keep the telephone, particularly if mobile/broadband signals are very poor, or for example, in accident blackspots.

"Whether communities wish to retain a telephone 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."

As part of the consultation, the council has asked for local views about mobile phone coverage to add to ongoing efforts to secure 100 per cent digital connectivity across Shropshire.

For more details email community.enablement@shropshire.gov.uk or call 01743 253077.