Three more Caithness phone kiosks could be axed
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A FURTHER three public telephone kiosks in Caithness could be axed as part of a Highland-wide review being carried out by BT.
The three under threat in Caithness are at Bignold Park, Harrowhill, Wick; the old post office building at Dunnet; and Braemore, near Dunbeath. A number of phone kiosks could be closed in Sutherland, including Armadale, Skerray and Durness.
More than 100 in the Highlands are at risk, although the telecommunications giant has stressed it is consulting with the public before making any decision. It also points out that use of public telephones has plummeted by 90 per cent in the past 10 years.
The move comes a year after after the company launched its previous consultation on removing 110 payphones in the Highlands. That exercise resulted in 163 representations being made region-wide.
Caithness civic leader Willie Mackay said there couldn't be too many public telephone kiosks to be removed in the county as BT "made a sweep of the area not so long ago".
At that time, the company agreed to leave lifeline phones or those in areas where mobile reception was poor.
"I can't see that the signal in those areas has improved, as I know on my extensive travels in Caithness that there are pockets of poor reception. I await the plans with great interest," the Wick and East Caithness Highland councillor said.
A BT spokeswoman said: "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.
"The need for payphones in emergencies is also reducing as 98 per cent of the UK has either 3G or 4G coverage. As long as there’s network coverage from at least one network, it’s possible to call 999, even when there’s no credit or no coverage from your own mobile provider."
The spokeswoman added: "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. Adopted kiosks can be turned into a community asset, such as a defibrillator site or mini-library. For more details visit bt.com/adopt."
