The end of our public phone boxes?

Public pay phones are set to become a thing of the past across the Welshpool area after it was revealed that no phone calls have been made from some over the past year.

BT Payphones has informed Powys County Council (PCC) of its intention to remove up to 80 payphones within the county, and this includes locations in Welshpool, Middletown, Guilsfield, Llansantffraid, Castle Caereinion, Churchstoke, and Criggion.

The pay phone in Guilsfield has recorded a healthy 167 calls made in the past year, but those in Churchstoke and Criggion haven’t been used at all. Another in Llanfechain has been used just once.

“BT advise that overall use of payphones has declined by over 90% in the last decade and the need to provide payphones for use in emergency situations is diminishing all the time, with at least 98% 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,” said a spokesperson for the PCC Regeneration Department.

“To ensure that the local community are fully informed BT has placed consultation notices on all the relevant payphones.”

The removal process is regulated by Ofcom and PCC is the nominated Local Public Organisation that will receive responses from local communities for the consultation exercise. Following the consultation, the Council will forward recommendations to BT and the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport.

“This consultation process also gives local communities the opportunity to adopt a traditional red ‘heritage’ phone box and make them an asset that local people can enjoy. It’s really simple to do and it costs just £1. The Council also invites views for consideration as part of this process,” the spokesperson added.

You can find the consultation here and the deadline to submit responses is August 21.