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Five payphones in Caithness set for removal


By Matt Leslie

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Up to five public telephone boxes in Caithness are at risk of removal.

Communications firm BT conducted a review of its public phone service that recommended 110 boxes across the Highlands should be scrapped.

Although the phone boxes that are still operational in Wick are not under threat, Thurso is set to lose the one situated on Provost Sinclair Road.

The main streets of both Lybster and Castletown will see their boxes gone, as will the one near Dunnet's post office and the box situated on Halkirk's Crescent Street.

Under Ofcom guidelines, the local authorities are responsible for coordinating consultation responses on behalf of their local communities for any proposed removal of public payphones.

Objections to removal can be made, but this must be based on evidence of need.

Following a two-phase community consultation, Highland Council has received 163 representations regarding BT’s proposals to remove 110 public call boxes from across the Highland region.

On Thursday, members of the council’s environment, development and infrastructure committee will be asked to consider and agree a response to BT.

Based on community feedback and evidence provided, the response proposes objecting to 55 payphones being removed, with a further six to be "adopted" by the local community.

The finalised response must be submitted to BT and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport by November 13, and will be published on the council’s website.

If BT disagrees with any of the objections made by the council, it will ask to formally review those objections with the local authority and Ofcom will consider the decision on proposed closure.

Speaking ahead of the deadline for the consultation period, Caithness civic leader Willie Mackay had urged the members of the public to make their views known. Pointing out that BT payphone usage had declined by 90 per cent since mobile phones took over, Councillor Mackay said: “There are still places in the county where people, in particularly the elderly, rely on the phone box.”

Commenting on the decision, a BT spokesperson added: "Most people now have a mobile phone and calls made from our public telephones have fallen by around 90 per cent in the past decade.

"We consider a number of factors before consulting on the removal of payphones, including whether others are available nearby and usage.

"As part of the consultation we are also offering communities the chance to adopt traditional red ‘heritage’ phone boxes for just £1 through our 'Adopt a Kiosk' scheme and transform them into something inspirational for their local area. For more details visit bt.com/adopt.

"The need to provide payphones for use in emergency situations is also diminishing all the time, with at least 98 per cent of the UK having either 3G or 4G coverage.

"This is important because as long as there is network coverage, it’s now possible to call the emergency services, even when there is no credit or no coverage from your own mobile provider."


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