Consultation to decide fate of 61 payphones

A red traditional phone box, with a defibrillator sign on the top. There is a bright yellow defibrillator box inside. There is a man walking next to phone box, and cars are parked in the backgroundGetty Images

A payphone that has already been turned into a public defibrillator site in Shrewsbury

Paul Rogers
Local Democracy Reporter

The fate of 61 payphones across Shropshire is being decided.

BT is consulting until 12 June over the removal of public call boxes (PCBs) in the county.

However, a stay of execution is possible. Traditional red kiosks may be adopted by charities and councils for various community uses, and while adoption is also possible for modern-style kiosks, they may only be used to house defibrillators.

Thirteen of the 61 kiosks are listed, meaning they would not be removed even if there is no interest in adoption, although they would be locked and have their telephony removed.

The leader of Shropshire Council Lezley Picton said that further to the adoption "there is opportunity to share feedback with the council should there be a local view that a payphone in their area should remain operational".

"This could include for example feedback about local flooding issues of which BT may be unaware, or ongoing concerns about its usefulness for helpline calls or calls from people needing to access emergency services or other essential services, who may not have a mobile phone."

The consultation period has been extended in the light of the forthcoming local elections.

A red phone box on a pavement. There is a brick wall behind it with green bushes and treesGoogle

This phone box on High Street, Bishop's Castle, is listed so will not be removed, even if there is no interest in adoption

Shropshire Council no longer has the power of veto over removals, after Ofcom made changes in June 2022.

Now there is a set of criteria to assess reasonable user needs prior to the removal of a "last at a site" PCB.

The criteria is set out to protect payphones where:

  • They do not have coverage from all four mobile network providers

  • They are located in an area with a high frequency of accidents or suicides

  • They have made 52 or more calls over the past 12 month

  • There is other evidence of a reasonable need for the PCB

Councillors will issue a draft provisional review of the payphones after the elections on 1 May.

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