Herefordshire people want to save 77 telephone boxes from the axe

The campaign to save Herefordshire’s rural telephone boxes gathers pace as communities now identify 77 they say must be saved, out of 111 under threat of closure by telecommunications giant BT.

After lobbying the telecommunications regulator Ofcom, Herefordshire Council has secured a further stay of execution from BT, which has agreed a second deadline for consultation – back from 18 July to Friday 26 September. This is because BT was late in posting notification of the consultation in kiosks that could be closed.

Having written to all parish councils, the council says that many communities are worried that if the telephones are scrapped, there will be no emergency lifeline available as mobile telecommunications coverage is limited.  

“It is good news that BT has accepted that its consultation got off to a shaky start and extended the deadline by over two months”, said Anthony Bush, parish liaison and rural services officer. “But with it comes a risk of complacency. I would urge people please to check the council’s website now to see whether their local kiosk is at risk and let us have your views straight away. The council will be making a submission to save our pay phones in time for the new deadline”.
 
Herefordshire Council says it still has three main concerns about BT’s consultation:

1. BT has provided no evidence to show how telephone kiosks are used in emergencies, they have said only that they are not used sufficiently for them to be profitable. The service obligation with the regulator means that BT cannot use money as a reason for closure.

2. BT needs to undertake a survey of mobile phone coverage in Herefordshire as part of their evidence supporting any proposals for pay phone closure, as this issue is crucial to BT’s obligation to maintain this line of communication in the event of an emergency.

3. BT has failed to present options for local people to consider – other than closure. Communities need to be allowed to put forward other ideas that might result in the telephone boxes becoming more viable.

People concerned about losing their local pay phone can contact Anthony Bush on 01432 260611; or email: abush@herefordshire.gov.uk or write to him at Herefordshire Council, Plough Lane, PO Box 4, Hereford, HR4 0XH.

Communities have yet to comment on the following telephone kiosks under threat of closure:

Telephone Number    Address

01432 265788           A49 Junc Hayward, 1pco, Callow, Hereford HR2  8DE

01432 274400           1pco, Westfaling St, Hereford HR4  0JB

01432 870340           1pco, Hampton Bishop, Hereford HR1  4JR

01531 670201           1pco, Putley Green, Putley, Ledbury HR8  2QN

01531 670284           Little Marcle, 1pco, Much Marcle, Ledbury, HR8 2LX

01531 670352           Wallers Green, 1pco, Trumpet, Ledbury, HR8 2RA

01531 670444           Stretton Grandison, 1pco, Stretton Grandison, Ledbury, HR8 2TW

01544 318211           1pco, Sarnesfield, Hereford, HR4 8RE

01544 318257           1pco, Burton Wood, Weobley, Hereford, HR4 8SX

01544 318445           1pco, Weobley, Hereford, HR4 8ST

01544 327211           Pco2, Church Road, Eardisley, Hereford, HR3 6NN

01544 340211           1pco, Broxwood, Leominster, HR6 9JJ

01568 720267           1pco, Ivington, Leominster, HR6 0JW

01600 890211           890211 Near Paddocks Hotel, 1pco, Kiosk, Symonds Yat, Ross On Wye, HR9 6BL

01885 482352           1pco, Tedstone Wafre, Bromyard, HR7 4PX

01886 880304           1pco, Bearswood, Storridge, Malvern, WR13 5EP

01886 880311           1 Pco Finchers Corner, Cradley, Malvern, WR13 5LP

01886 880411           1pco, Storridge, Malvern, WR13 5HB

01981 250264           1pco, Green Lane, Kingstone, Hereford, HR2 9EX

01981 540333           1pco, Llanwarne, Hereford, HR2 8JJ

01981 540481           1pco, Kingsthorne, Hereford, HR2 8AL

01981 540555           1pco, Wormelow, Hereford, HR2 8EJ

01981 580204           1pco, Broad Oak, St Weonards, Hereford, HR2 8PD

01981 590256           1pco, Byford, Hereford, HR4 7LD

01989 562137           Opp. Conservative Club, 1pco, The Avenue, Ross On Wye, HR9 5AW

01989 562247           1pco, Gloucester Rd, Ross On Wye, HR9 5BU

01989 563811           1pco, Greytree, Ross On Wye, HR9  7QJ

01989 720200           1pco, Gorsley, Ross On Wye, HR9 7SJ

01989 730273           1pco, St Owens Cross, Harewood End, Hereford, HR2 8JT

01989 740633           1pco, Perrystone Hill, Ross On Wye, HR9 7QY

01989 750211           1pco, Bromsash, Ross On Wye, HR9 7PL

01989 750323           1pco, Pontshill, Ross On Wye, HR9 5SY

01989 770214           1pco, Llangrove, Ross On Wye, HR9 6EZ