About the BT payphone survey: October 2023
Survey closed: Sunday 29 October 2023
Survey opened: Monday 2 October 2023
We have received a notice from British Telecom (BT) informing us that it has identified 11 public payphones in Central Bedfordshire that are no longer needed.
BT has evaluated these payphones based on the criteria outlined in Ofcom's review of the telephony universal service obligation. This states that payphones cannot be removed if it is the last remaining in an area and it meets one or more of the following criteria:
- it is in a place without coverage from all four mobile network providers
- it is located in an area with a high frequency of accidents or suicides
- it has made 52 or more calls over the past 12 months
- or there is other evidence that the box is reasonably needed at the site – for example if it is likely to be relied upon in the event of a local emergency, such as flooding, or if it is used to call helplines
Read Ofcom's guidance (PDF) for further information around the criteria.
Notices have been affixed to these payphones, and we are expected to provide a formal response to BT's notice by 14 November.
In the past, if we expressed opposition to BT's plan to eliminate a payphone, BT couldn't proceed with the removal. However, the guidelines have been updated, and our ability to veto such removals has been removed.
As we no longer hold decision-making authority in this matter, we are unable to conduct a formal consultation. Instead, we are conducting an engagement survey to gather the opinions of local communities regarding the proposals. This survey will help us gather evidence to shape our response.
Adopt a payphone
Local communities also have the opportunity to adopt a traditional red ‘heritage’ phone box and make it an asset that local people can enjoy. Adopting a phone box could mean that the town or parish council, or a registered charity could adopt a given phone box and retain it for an alternative community use. Some examples of how phone boxes have been used include housing defibrillators, art galleries and libraries. Communities can adopt most red boxes for just £1. They can also adopt modern glass boxes if they want to house a defibrillator.