Payphones face removal after no calls made in 2025

Sure said no calls were made from Guernsey's telephone boxes in 2025

Guernsey's telephone boxes are at risk of removal because they are not used enough.

Telecommunications company Sure said not a single phone call was made from the island's 22 payphones in 2025 and the need for them "continued to decline".

A consultation on a proposal to remove them was open until 31 October, the firm said.

Simon Baldwin, Sure's chief commercial officer, said: "There is no timeframe for the removal of the phone boxes so we'll devise a plan once all appropriate consultation has taken place."

Notices have been placed on the affected payphones

Mr Baldwin said the company would enter talks with Citizen's Advice and Age Concern after the public consultation was over.

He said the decline in demand was a "clear reflection" of "how well-equipped Guernsey is for connectivity".

"Notices have been placed on the payphones," he said.

"Sure's ambitious investment programme is focused on infrastructure and services that enable how people communicate today - including world-class fibre and 5G connectivity.

"Sure's team has carried out tests to confirm there is strong mobile signal at each of the affected sites."

Ali Marquis, chief executive of Citizens Advice Guernsey, said she did not think the removal of the phone boxes would be a problem.

"A number of our clients do have mobile phones and do have access to phones," she said.

She suggested the phone boxes could be repurposed for community-based projects, such as mini libraries or Wi-Fi points.

Mark Palfrey, director of Age Concern Guernsey, did not foresee "any negative impact on our members of Age Concern Guernsey".

Sure said the affected phone boxes included:

• Sausmarez Park play area

• L'Eree Toilet block

• Imperial Bus Terminus

• Forest Stores

• Fermain Bay

• Jerbourg carpark

• Iceland St Martins

• STM Café carprk by Blades

• L'Islet Opposite St Marys Church

• Bridge South

• Salerie

• Inter Island Quay

• Weighbridge South Whitehart

• Weighbridge North Whitehart

• North Plantation West De la Rue

• North Plantation De La Rue

• Crown Pier

• Albert Pier (West)

• Church Square (next to Defib)

• Church Square (second from Defib)

• Church Square (third from Defib)

• Central Exchange, Upland Road