Lifeline phone boxes saved as BT answers call for a reprieve

MORE than 150 phone boxes have been saved after a campaign by politicians and communities who feared the loss of vital lifelines.

BT had earmarked 192 kiosks for closure across the Highland Council area because usage had dropped dramatically.

The council did not object in 41 cases but said there was a case for retaining the other 151, arguing the large remote and rural area relied more on the payphone network than other parts of the UK, because of a lack of mobile phone coverage in some districts.

It said a minimal level of coverage should be maintained for public safety reasons in an area of sparse population and high-risk activities, such as mountaineering and hillwalking.

Sandy Park, the council convener, yesterday paid tribute to communities for highlighting their concern at the potential loss of payphones and thanked BT for taking on board their objections.

"Rural service provision is an important issue for the Highlands, and the council is pleased that this has been recognised by BT with their response," he said.

Among the kiosks saved are those at Ulbster in Caithness, near the famous Whaligoe Steps tourist attraction and a dangerous location where mobile phone coverage is poor; at Laid, near Lairg in Sutherland, which has been used in recent years to report car accidents, Coastguard emergencies on the loch and lost hillwalkers; and at Redcastle, on the Beauly Firth, where residents considered a community buyout to save their phone box.

Also saved is a kiosk erected in the 1960s on the Duke of Westminster's estate at Achfary, Sutherland, and painted black and white to blend in with the surrounding buildings.

BT said 90 per cent of the UK adult population had a mobile phone, and the need for payphones had fallen dramatically.

Payphone usage has halved in the past two years and calls are still declining by 20 per cent a year. Almost 60 per cent are now unprofitable, with nearly 6,000 phones being used to make an average less than one call per month.

There are now 62,000 kiosks across the UK, 30,000 fewer than in 2002. In Scotland, there were 11,700 eight years ago, but now there are only 5,883 – and more than 1,000 of these could disappear soon.

A BT spokesman said: "BT understands the sensitivity of discussions on payphone removals, especially in rural areas. We take our social obligations very seriously and we made it clear from the outset that this was a full and proper consultation and we would listen objectively to what local communities had to say."

SAVED LIST

Caithness -
Canisbay, Wick
Huna, Wick
John O'Groats.
Bignold Park, Harrowhill.
Post Office,Watten.
Crescent St, Halkirk.
Provost Sinclair Rd, Thurso
Thurso Railway Station.
Pennyland Service Station, Thurso
St Magnus Rd, Thurso
Opposite school, Reay.
Post Office, Janetstown.
Park Avenue / Dunnett Rd, Thurso
Main Street, Castletown.
Post Office, Dunnet.
Post Office, Mey.
Ulbster
Main Street, Lybster
Post Office, Latheron
Latheronwheel.
Post Office, Dunbeath
Post Office, Berriedale

North West and Central Sutherland -
Post Office, Ardgay
Post Office, Bonar Bridge.
Bridgend, Lairg
Post Office, Rosehall.
Culrain, Invershin.
Outside Hotel, Invershin.
Station, Lairg
Ullapool-Lochinver road, Elphin.
Inchnadamph.
Main Road, Kylesku.
Achmelvich Bay.
Post Office, Stoer.
Post Office, Clashnessie.
Inver Park, Lochinver.
Garage, Inverkirkaig.
Nedd, Drumbeg
Post Office, Drumbeg
Achfary, Lairg
Balvoolich, Lairg
Durness Visitors Centre
Smoo Cottage
Police Station, Rhiconich
Exchange, Altnaharra
Eriboll
No 90 Laid,
Coldbackie
Outside shop, Talmine
Lubinvoulin
Old Manse Strathy East,
Off A836, Lednagullin, Armadale
Kirtomy, Bettyhill
Post Office, Melvich

East Sutherland/Edderton -
Camore Dornoch
Sheepmarket, Rogart
Main Street, Golspie
The Bridge, Bridgend
Simpson Crescent, Helmsdale
Gower Street, Brora

Cromarty Firth -
Smithy, Ardross
Dublin Village, Ardross

Black Isle-
Kilcoy, Muir Of Ord
Old Smithy, Redcastle
Crossroads, Leanaig, Conon Bridge
Alcaig
Culbokie
Post Office, Balblair
Killen, Avoch

Dingwall and Seaforth -
Knockfarrell
Seaforth Place, Maryburgh

Lochaber -
Bohuntin, Roy Bridge
Tulloch Murlaggan, Roy Bridge
Pier, Ardgour
Inversanda
Camusnagaul Ferry Car Park, Treslaig
Crown Cottages, Banavie
Oakbank, Kinlocheil
Invergarry
Near Bridge Of Oich
Telephone Exchange, Strontian
Salen Hall
Sub Post Office, Glenborrodale
Newton Crossroads, Newton, Acharacle
Sub Post Office, Achateny, Acharacle
Car Park, Kilchoan
Portuairk, Kilchoan
Rail Station, Glenfinnan
Forestry Houses, Polloch.
Sub Post Office, Kinlochmoidart
Post Office, Arisaig
Achnaskiach, Arisaig

Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh-
Post Office, Strathpeffer
Port Henderson, Gairloch
Post Office, Opinan
Pier Rd, Gairloch
Big Sand, Gairloch
Achnasheen
Annat
Torridon
Post Office, Alligin
Diabaig
New council house site, Aultbea
Mellon Charles
Post Office, Poolewe
Coast, Poolewe
Cove, Achnasheen
Gruinard
Aultguish Inn, Garve
Dundonnell
Campbells Stores, Badcaul
Croft 1, Scoraig.
Post Office, Lochbroom
Braemore Junction.
Ardindrean, Garve
Postmans Hut, Badralloch
Strathkanaird
Achiltibuie Post Office
Altandhu
Post Office, Killilan
Lower Ardelve, Dornie
Post Office, Arnisdale
Post Office, Kirkton
Glenelg
Strome Ferry
Achmore
Middle Toscaig, Applecross
Post Office, Kishorn
Arrina Kenmore, Shieldaig
Nurses House, Shieldaig
Ardaneaskan, Lochcarron
Achnashellach
Blackrock, Strathconon

Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey- Torness/Errogie road Riverside, Foyers Dunmaglass, Gorthleck Glenmoriston Balblair Crask Of Aigas Milton Villa, Glen Urquhart Torgoyle Bridge, Glenmoriston Exchange, Fort Augustus Jenkins Park, Fort Augustus

Badenoch and Strathspey-
Cross-Roads, Catlodge, Laggan
Post Office, Insh
Dava,

Culloden & Ardersier-
Married Quarters, Ardersier
Crossroads, Gollanfield

Nairn -
Fraser Park, Nairn
Camperdown Road/ Househill Terrace, Nairn Glenferness