Public phone boxes in Staffordshire facing the axe over lack of use

BT is planning to remove the phone boxes in Stone’s Market Square and Trent Close in Great Haywood. A 90-day consultation on the future of the two facilities ends on October 7.

Information presented Stone Town Council revealed an average of 20 calls a month were made using the phone box in Market Square, located next to the library. But the Trent Close kiosk saw just one call a month.

An email sent by BT to Stafford Borough Council said: "We’re continually reviewing the demand for our payphones and we’ve identified two public payphones in your area that aren’t being used enough. We’re proposing to remove them under the 90 day consultation process. To make sure that the local community are fully informed, we’ve placed consultation on these payphones.

"Overall use of payphones has declined by over 90 per cent in the last decade and the need to provide payphones for use in emergency situations is diminishing all the time, with at least 98 per cent of the UK having mobile coverage. This is important because as long as there is mobile network coverage, it’s possible to call the emergency services, even when there is no coverage from your own mobile network provider.

"Also, Ofcom’s affordability report found that most people no longer view payphones as essential for consumers in most circumstances."

But Stone Town Council members said the Market Square phone box was still needed by residents of all ages

Councillor Rob Kenney said: "I have personally seen people using that phone on several occasions when I have been in town. They tend to be of the older generation – maybe they can’t use a mobile phone and would much prefer to use the payphone in Market Square.

"I myself would like to keep that payphone within Market Square. I propose we put forward a response that indicates we wish that telephone kiosk to remain in Market Square.”

Fellow councillors also backed the call for the phone box to stay.

Councillor Jill Hood said: "I absolutely agree with you – it is a very well-used telephone box. In particular I notice there are a number of boaters that come across to Market Square and use that telephone box. I know it is used quite a lot for sheltering when it’s raining.

"Not everybody has a mobile phone and some people get caught out if their battery goes. I would be very sad to see it go – I think it is absolutely needed.”

Councillor Tom Adamson added: "I think public telephones can be used for other things as well – people who may be in distress and children who may not have phones. It gives people the ability to contact people who haven’t got mobile phones.

"I think a public telephone network is something we should have. We shouldn’t rely on or expect people to have mobiles."