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Have your say on Caithness kiosks


By David G Scott

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HIGHLAND Council is seeking final feedback from the public on British Telecom’s (BT) proposal to remove 107 public payphones from across the region.

Three Caithness telephone kiosks are at risk – in Dunnet, Braemore and Wick – as part of a Highland-wide review being undertaken by BT. There are also more than 10 that could be removed from locations in Sutherland including Armadale, Skerray and Durness.

Caithness civic leader Willie Mackay made a point of visiting all of the telephone boxes at risk in the county and said that, as part of the consultation, BT is offering traditional red heritage phone boxes to the public for £1 through its Adopt a Kiosk scheme . He said the boxes can be turned into useful community facilities.

This phone box at Braemore is under threat of being removed but could be bought for just £1 to be used for other purposes. Picture: DGS
This phone box at Braemore is under threat of being removed but could be bought for just £1 to be used for other purposes. Picture: DGS

"There are successes where communities have installed defibrillators which could save a person's life at a time of a cardiac arrest," he explained. "Some have even been turned into information points, art galleries and small libraries."

This second phase of consultation will run until October 10. Details, including how to respond can be found at the consultation area of the Highland Council website .

Regulation set out by Ofcom, the independent communications regulator, states that the council has the responsibility to coordinate a response to BT. Following 116 responses to the first phase of the consultation, an initial summary of this feedback has been published online at the council website for further comment.

The council encourages members of the public to look at BT’s proposals and comment, giving as much information as possible about the public call boxes which have been proposed for removal.

Following the end of the consultation, a final notice of decision will be published which will outline Highland Council’s position on the proposed removals.

Civic Leader Willie Mackay visited all the Caithness phone boxes at risk but was dismayed over the state of this one in Wick which had been badly vandalised.
Civic Leader Willie Mackay visited all the Caithness phone boxes at risk but was dismayed over the state of this one in Wick which had been badly vandalised.

Council leader, Margaret Davidson, said: “I would like to encourage members of the public to respond to the consultation. People living in the areas of proposed closures are in the best position to know the impact removal of a payphone would have on them and their community.

"There are important reasons around public safety for retaining a payphone in some areas. Reasons for objecting to the removal of the payphones can include poor mobile phone coverage at accident blackspots, or marine and mountainous areas where safety is a concern.

“The council is extremely disappointed that BT have decided to issue another consultation on removal of payphones, less than a year after the conclusion of the last consultation.

"Fifty-two of the 2019 consultation payphones have been included again. I would therefore urge the community to respond and provide their feedback on local need. Safety and not financial considerations have to be the top priority and the BT payphone network is a lifeline service for many. Many areas in the Highlands are without mobile phone coverage and not everyone has access to a mobile phone.”

More details on the consultation are available on the council website, until October 10, at this link www.highland.gov.uk/consultations

Caithness civic leader dismayed at state of vandalised Wick phone kiosk


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