• YOU ARE IN:
• Sedgemoor Home
• /
• The Council
• /
• Service Areas
• /
• Community Services
• /
• BT Public Payphone removal proposals - Consultation Ends

BT Public Payphone removal proposals - Consultation Ends

The Council has been consulting on BT Payphones proposals to remove 34 payphones within the district.

Telephone Box

Under the Universal Service Obligation, BT is required to provide adequate coverage of public payphones. However, BT is arguing that the needs of customers have changed drastically with the increase in mobile phone ownership leading to a complete change in the communications culture – with the number of calls from BT Payphones reducing by more than 50% in the last three years. 

The District Council has been consulting with Parish and Town Councils, local organisations and the public to seek their views on the proposed removals.  The consultation period has now ended and the District Council has considered all responses.

The final decision setting out the District Council's views has now been sent to BT to meet the 12th September 2008 deadline.  You can view the response by clicking on Final Schedule.  Some Parish Councils wish to retain their red kiosk for aesthetic reasons as part of their rural heritage, if they wish to do this they can ADOPT the kiosk by purchasing it from BT and agreeing to maintain it, however BT will remove the telephone.  If parishes wish to keep the telephone working they have to SPONSOR the kiosk and agree to pay BT an annual fee to maintain the kiosk and  service the telephone.  

Details of the ADOPT and SPONSOR a kiosk schemes can be found on BT's website www.bt.com/payphones. Parishes have to complete the application process on-line at this website by 1st October 2008 in order to be considered for these schemes.