June 18, 2008 - Martin Harrison - BT continues rural payphone cull

BT continues rural payphone cull

Like fish and chips, double-decker buses and rainy weather, few things are as quintessentially British as red payphone kiosks.

Familiar sights all over the UK and even abroad, they have become synonymous with most British villages and towns, holding a special place in people’s hearts.

Welsh Crooner Tom Jones was so enamoured with the payphone box he used to call his childhood sweetheart from, that he even had it shipped from his home town of Pontypool to his California mansion.

However, thousands of these beloved payphones are under threat as BT continues to axe thousands of kiosks across the UK.

Worst affected are rural areas, with BT blaming falling usage for a need to cut back on the number of payphones in service.

The iconic red boxes, for so long a beacon of tradition in the British countryside, are being phased out in cost-saving measures.

In a move that could have drastic implications for rural locations where mobile signals are unreliable, payphones have proved to be a vital lifeline in emergency situations. A spokesman for BT said:

"BT is committed to providing a public payphone service, however over the years as usage has declined BT has been constantly reviewing and where necessary rationalising its public payphone estate in order to meet demand.

"Almost 60 per cent of our payphones are unprofitable, with almost 6,000 phones making less than one call a month. Payphone usage has halved in the last two years and calls are still declining at 20 per cent year on year."

It’s not all gloom and doom however for Britain’s payphones. Manchester based distributor Big Box Shop supply a range of quality coin-operated telephones which are perfect for areas where BT’s services are being withdrawn

Big Box Director Gary Basso commented: “It’s a shame the BT have decided to do away with so many of these payphones. Many have become landmarks in the community and it is understandable that they have a place in people’s affections. Moreover, they provide a vital lifeline for communities, particularly in emergency situations.”

Big Box stock a full range of payphones, suitable for privately owned individuals, including the popular Solitaire 2000 and Solitaire 6000 models.

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