Communities to adopt red phone boxes
Dozens of iconic red phone boxes across Norfolk could be set for a stay of execution, despite a national cull of the least profitable public pay phones.
Dozens of iconic red phone boxes across Norfolk could be set for a stay of execution, despite a national cull of the least profitable public pay phones.
BT announced proposals to remove more than 300 phone boxes in the county last year as a result of a lack of use, caused by the rise of the mobile phone.
But the company has revealed that 36 town and parish councils in Norfolk had signed up to an “adopt a box” scheme, which would see communities paying �1 to keep their traditional red box - minus its phone equipment.
A spokesman added that BT had also received six applications from local communities willing to pay �500 a year to retain their closure-threatened kiosk and pay phone.
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Communities have until tomorrow to apply to sponsor or adopt their phone boxes as part of a BT consultation. Seventy public phones in Breckland, 98 in West Norfolk, 12 in North Norfolk, 47 in Broadland, and 19 in Yarmouth, were proposed for the axe last year.
Breckland Council has made a plea for 19 threatened pay phones in its area to be retained. North Norfolk District Council has agreed to sponsor red boxes in West Raynham and Overstrand Road, Cromer, because of their conservation value.
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Broadland District Councillors have objected to 24 phone box closures, with communities in Woodbastwick, near Wroxham, and Hevingham, near Aylsham, volunteering to adopt their village kiosks.
