Payphones face axe in BT plan

PAYPHONES across west Wiltshire look set to vanish under BT's plans to scale back on its network across the country.

In a consultation report sent to West Wiltshire District Council, the phone giant outlines its plans to remove 37 unprofitable phoneboxes from towns and villages across the district.

BT said 60 per cent of its payphones are now unprofitable and 75 per cent of ones in line for the axe are making less than £100 a year, due to the rise in number of people with mobile phones.

A 90-day consultation has been launched and affected phone boxes will have notices placed inside them.

Members of the public opposing any of the closures are being urged to contact the district council, whose scrutiny committee will be examining the proposals at a meeting in May.

Chris Orum, of BT, said 85 per cent of the UK population now have mobile phones, prompting a sharp decline in the use of payphones.

He said a decision about those earmarked for closure was made using guidelines issued by OFCOM. Payphones within 400 metres of another can be closed without public consultation.

Chair of scrutiny Cllr Jeff Osborn said it was important the public had a chance to put forward their views on the closures. He said: " We are a bit cynical about any consultation after the Post Office closures. The main thing we can do is give councillors a chance to say their bit and test the feeling in their patch.

"I can see where this is coming from. It's true, most people have mobile phones now. It is a lot less of an issue than the Post Office one."

Payphones under threat

• TROWBRIDGE Hawkeridge Road, Yarnbrook, Bradford Road, Trowbridge, Greenhill Gardens, Hilperton, Kingsdown Road, Trowbridge, Wingfield Road, Trowbridge, High Street, Bulkington, Great Hinton, A350 layby near West Ashton
• BRADFORD ON AVON The Street, Holt, Farleigh Rise, Monkton Farleigh, Lower South Wraxall, South Wraxall, Middle Stoke, Limpley Stoke
• MELKSHAM Broughton Gifford centre, Lowbourne, Melksham, Norrington Common, Bath Road, Atworth, Corsham Road, Whitley, Addison Road, Melksham, Granville Road /Portman Road, Melksham, Longford Road, Melksham
• WESTBURY Hawkeridge, Westbury, Stormore, Dilton Marsh, Eden Vale Road/Oldfield Park, Westbury, Melbourne Street, Bratton
• WARMINSTER Lane End, Corsley, Woodcock Road, Warminster, Imber Road, Warminster, Sambourne Road, Warminster, Tytherington, Warminster, High Street, Heytesbury Norton Bavant, Gentle Street, Horningsham, Kingston Deverill, Stockton, Corton, Hillside, Codford

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