Lifeline phone boxes saved as BT answers call for a reprieve

Published on Thursday 30 October 2008 21:10

MORE than 150 phone boxes have been saved after a campaign by politicians and communities who feared the loss of vital lifelines.

BT had earmarked 192 kiosks for closure across the Highland Council area because usage had dropped dramatically.

The council did not object in 41 cases but said there was a case for retaining the other 151, arguing the large remote and rural area relied more on the payphone network than other parts of the UK, because of a lack of mobile phone coverage in some districts.

It said a minimal level of coverage should be maintained for public safety reasons in an area of sparse population and high-risk activities, such as mountaineering and hillwalking.

Sandy Park, the council convener, yesterday paid tribute to communities for highlighting their concern at the potential loss of payphones and thanked BT for taking on board their objections.

"Rural service provision is an important issue for the Highlands, and the council is pleased that this has been recognised by BT with their response," he said.

Among the kiosks saved are those at Ulbster in Caithness, near the famous Whaligoe Steps tourist attraction and a dangerous location where mobile phone coverage is poor; at Laid, near Lairg in Sutherland, which has been used in recent years to report car accidents, Coastguard emergencies on the loch and lost hillwalkers; and at Redcastle, on the Beauly Firth, where residents considered a community buyout to save their phone box.

Also saved is a kiosk erected in the 1960s on the Duke of Westminster's estate at Achfary, Sutherland, and painted black and white to blend in with the surrounding buildings.

BT said 90 per cent of the UK adult population had a mobile phone, and the need for payphones had fallen dramatically.

Payphone usage has halved in the past two years and calls are still declining by 20 per cent a year. Almost 60 per cent are now unprofitable, with nearly 6,000 phones being used to make an average less than one call per month.

There are now 62,000 kiosks across the UK, 30,000 fewer than in 2002. In Scotland, there were 11,700 eight years ago, but now there are only 5,883 – and more than 1,000 of these could disappear soon.

A BT spokesman said: "BT understands the sensitivity of discussions on payphone removals, especially in rural areas. We take our social obligations very seriously and we made it clear from the outset that this was a full and proper consultation and we would listen objectively to what local communities had to say."

SAVED LIST

Caithness -

Canisbay, Wick

Huna, Wick

John O'Groats.

Bignold Park, Harrowhill.

Post Office,Watten.

Crescent St, Halkirk.

Provost Sinclair Rd, Thurso

Thurso Railway Station.

Pennyland Service Station, Thurso

St Magnus Rd, Thurso

Opposite school, Reay.

Post Office, Janetstown.

Park Avenue / Dunnett Rd, Thurso

Main Street, Castletown.

Post Office, Dunnet.

Post Office, Mey.

Ulbster

Main Street, Lybster

Post Office, Latheron

Latheronwheel.

Post Office, Dunbeath

Post Office, Berriedale

North West and Central Sutherland -

Post Office, Ardgay

Post Office, Bonar Bridge.

Bridgend, Lairg

Post Office, Rosehall.

Culrain, Invershin.

Outside Hotel, Invershin.

Station, Lairg

Ullapool-Lochinver road, Elphin.

Inchnadamph.

Main Road, Kylesku.

Achmelvich Bay.

Post Office, Stoer.

Post Office, Clashnessie.

Inver Park, Lochinver.

Garage, Inverkirkaig.

Nedd, Drumbeg

Post Office, Drumbeg

Achfary, Lairg

Balvoolich, Lairg

Durness Visitors Centre

Smoo Cottage

Police Station, Rhiconich

Exchange, Altnaharra

Eriboll

No 90 Laid,

Coldbackie

Outside shop, Talmine

Lubinvoulin

Old Manse Strathy East,

Off A836, Lednagullin, Armadale

Kirtomy, Bettyhill

Post Office, Melvich

East Sutherland/Edderton -

Camore Dornoch

Sheepmarket, Rogart

Main Street, Golspie

The Bridge, Bridgend

Simpson Crescent, Helmsdale

Gower Street, Brora

Cromarty Firth -

Smithy, Ardross

Dublin Village, Ardross

Black Isle-

Kilcoy, Muir Of Ord

Old Smithy, Redcastle

Crossroads, Leanaig, Conon Bridge

Alcaig

Culbokie

Post Office, Balblair

Killen, Avoch

Dingwall and Seaforth -

Knockfarrell

Seaforth Place, Maryburgh

Lochaber -

Bohuntin, Roy Bridge

Tulloch Murlaggan, Roy Bridge

Pier, Ardgour

Inversanda

Camusnagaul Ferry Car Park, Treslaig

Crown Cottages, Banavie

Oakbank, Kinlocheil

Invergarry

Near Bridge Of Oich

Telephone Exchange, Strontian

Salen Hall

Sub Post Office, Glenborrodale

Newton Crossroads, Newton, Acharacle

Sub Post Office, Achateny, Acharacle

Car Park, Kilchoan

Portuairk, Kilchoan

Rail Station, Glenfinnan

Forestry Houses, Polloch.

Sub Post Office, Kinlochmoidart

Post Office, Arisaig

Achnaskiach, Arisaig

Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh-

Post Office, Strathpeffer

Port Henderson, Gairloch

Post Office, Opinan

Pier Rd, Gairloch

Big Sand, Gairloch

Achnasheen

Annat

Torridon

Post Office, Alligin

Diabaig

New council house site, Aultbea

Mellon Charles

Post Office, Poolewe

Coast, Poolewe

Cove, Achnasheen

Gruinard

Aultguish Inn, Garve

Dundonnell

Campbells Stores, Badcaul

Croft 1, Scoraig.

Post Office, Lochbroom

Braemore Junction.

Ardindrean, Garve

Postmans Hut, Badralloch

Strathkanaird

Achiltibuie Post Office

Altandhu

Post Office, Killilan

Lower Ardelve, Dornie

Post Office, Arnisdale

Post Office, Kirkton

Glenelg

Strome Ferry

Achmore

Middle Toscaig, Applecross

Post Office, Kishorn

Arrina Kenmore, Shieldaig

Nurses House, Shieldaig

Ardaneaskan, Lochcarron

Achnashellach

Blackrock, Strathconon

Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey- Torness/Errogie road Riverside, Foyers Dunmaglass, Gorthleck Glenmoriston Balblair Crask Of Aigas Milton Villa, Glen Urquhart Torgoyle Bridge, Glenmoriston Exchange, Fort Augustus Jenkins Park, Fort Augustus

Badenoch and Strathspey-

Cross-Roads, Catlodge, Laggan

Post Office, Insh

Dava,

Culloden & Ardersier-

Married Quarters, Ardersier

Crossroads, Gollanfield

Nairn -

Fraser Park, Nairn

Camperdown Road/ Househill Terrace, Nairn Glenferness