BT's bid to axe phone boxes put on hold (From Warrington Guardian)

BT's bid to axe phone boxes put on hold

PLANS to scrap a number of public phones boxes across Warrington have been shelved after objections.

BT had hoped to get rid of nine phone boxes in Winwick, Westy, Orford, Houghton Green, Birchwood, Padgate and Woolston as part of cuts to reduce the number of public payphones.

But the company has upheld objections to eight planned removals and one is currently on hold.

It means that the number of phone boxes in the borough will, for the moment, remain the same. The proposed removal currently on hold is the kiosk on Long Lane in Orford.

Two of the phone boxes which BT planned to get rid of are in Birchwood, at Redpoll Lane and Admirals Road.

Birchwood Town Council objected to the plans, during a consultation period in September last year. At the time the council stated that it should not be assumed that all residents have access to either a home or a mobile phone. Although concerns were also raised at the amount of anti-social behaviour which could take place at the phone boxes.

There are currently around 160 phone boxes within the borough, 32 of which are card/cash kiosks and the rest are cash only kiosks.

Another of the proposed removals was at Pasture Lane in Longbarn. Poulton and Fearnhead parish councillor Mick Curran said: "I understand why they thought about doing it but there are people in the community without a phone."

The other phone boxes considered for removal were at Falcondale Road in Winwick, Bridgewater Avenue in Westy, Winwick Road in Warrington, Mill Lane in Houghton Green and Manchester Road in Woolston.

hcartwright@guardiangrp.co.uk