Fewston, Leathley, Timble, Denton, Askwith and North Rigton could lose iconic red call boxes (From Wharfedale Observer)

Fewston, Leathley, Timble, Denton, Askwith and North Rigton could lose iconic red call boxes

7:50am Friday 27th November 2009

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A notice warning of the impending disappearance of the iconic red phone box from rural villages north of the Wharfe has set alarm bells ringing – even if the telephones have stayed silent.

A computer mix-up at Harrogate Borough Council mistakenly put many of the traditional payphone kiosks – picture postcard landmarks in many North Yorkshire villages – on the endangered list.

Owner and service operator BT has confirmed that it is not the end of the line for the phone boxes, according to current plans.

But the company admits that the kiosks in question are little used, and there are worries that any further ‘rationalisation’ of services could take the phones and phone boxes away from isolated communities.

BT is asking if local authorities and parish councils want to ‘adopt’ the phone boxes, minus the actual public telephones.

A mix-up with documentation at Harrogate Council resulted in a planning applications notice showing dozens of planning applications for the removal of payphone kiosks across North Yorkshire.

Among them were call boxes in: Leathley Lane, Leathley, North Lane, Timble, Fewston, Smithy Lane, Denton, West Lane, Askwith, and Rigton Close, North Rigton.

A spokesman for BT says that the planning applications are incorrect, and the company has only issued letters of consultation to local authorities in preparation for any adoption applications.

Addingham Parish Council last week debated adopting a phone box in the village, and Ilkley Parish Council has declined a similar offer in the past.

A BT spokesman said: “Adopt a Kiosk is a voluntary scheme which local authorities can choose to be involved with, or not. The scheme was actually developed following feedback from local authorities wanting to secure the future of those red kiosks no longer needed as working payphones, but which have an iconic place in the local community.

“Use of public payphones is in decline – usage has halved in the last two years alone – but where there is a clear social need for a kiosk then it will be retained.”

A Harrogate Council spokesman confirmed that the letters were sent to the council by BT for consultation, and an error had led to them being classed as planning applications.

BT says there is currently no payphone rationalisation process in progress. However, if local councils choose to adopt one of the little-used phone boxes, BT will remove the telephone, and leave the kiosk in the hands of the council.

The company says more than 400 red kiosks have already been adopted across the UK, and others are in the process of being adopted. It is running a competition to find the most innovative use of an adopted kiosk – interesting entries so far include a mini art gallery and an information point.

Rural payphones cannot be removed without a 90-day consultation first taking place, and the approval of the local authority. BT says it would not remove a payphone where there is a social need for it, in line with Ofcom guidelines.

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