Save Powys' Phoneboxes Petition

7.30.00pm GMT Tue 1st Jul 2008

Following BT's announced axing of payphones across Powys Kirsty Williams has launched an online petition to 'Save our phone boxes'.

Kirsty Williams AM at Ystradfellte Phonebox

BT is undertaking a two strand programme of closure: one which will remove payphones where there is another within 400m and one which will consult on the closure of 190 payphones in Powys, 94 of which are in Brecon and Radnorshire, which BT claim are 'little used'.

Kirsty Williams AM for Brecon & Radnorshire said: "It is essential that BT considers removal of phone boxes not purely on usage and economic viability but also on issues of public safety.

"It is misleading for BT to say that little used payphones are no longer needed as most people have mobile phones. Large areas of Powys have limited or no network coverage and batteries can loose their charge. Payphones can be a lifeline in emergency situations, they can be the difference between contacting the emergency services in time or not. Payphones also play an essential role in providing access to services such as child line or domestic abuse lines in both urban and rural areas.

"Even if they are only used once or twice a week they still have the potential to save lives. BT has an obligation to maintain a network of pay phones on the grounds of public safety and social inclusion not on economic viability.

"Please sign up to my petition at http://kirstywilliams.org.uk/petitions/ and join the campaign to save Brecon & Radnorshire's payphones."

Notes:

The petition reads: We the undersigned recognise that mobile phone signals in rural areas can be poor, and therefore there is still a role for phone boxes especially in emergency situations. That many calls to Childline and domestic abuse helplines are made from payphones. We therefore call upon British Telecom to re-think its plans to remove 94 telephone boxes from Brecon and Radnorshire.

There are 4,324 telephone kiosks in Wales. BT is planning to axe 281 pay-phones across Wales where there is another one located within 400 metres. The company is also consulting on the removal of a further 805 payphones as part of a proposed cull of 10,000 boxes across the UK.