Objection Over Plan To Remove Phone Box

Kibworth Beauchamp Parish Council is objecting to plans to remove the phonebox from Station Street in the village.

Councillors say it is the only public phone in the area – and one of just two in the Kibworths – so needs to be retained, particularly for people to use in the event of an emergency.

BT is proposing taking it away, along with the kiosk in The Crescent, Market Harborough, due to low usage.

The firm in consulting on the move for the next month and if it does remove the phones, is asking Councils if they want to adopt the kiosks for £1.

In other areas of the district they are being used to house defibrillators and even a mini-library.

The phone on Station Street in Kibworth is set to be removed

A BT spokesperson said: “Most people now have a mobile phone and calls made from our public telephones have fallen by around 90 per cent in the past decade. We consider a number of factors before consulting on the removal of payphones, including whether others are available nearby and usage.

“We are currently consulting with Harborough District Council on the removal of two payphones in the area, providing the community with the chance to comment on our proposals.

“If an eligible body wishes to apply through our Adopt a Kiosk scheme to adopt a box for £1 and convert it into a unit housing a defibrillator, we will consider this. For more information visit bt.com/adopt.”

The consultation period will end on October 29th.