Highland Council urges residents and communities to voice their views over BT's plans to axe 110 Highland phone boxes; second phase of consultation ends on October 24
TIME is running out for residents and communities over plans to axe more than 100 phone boxes across the Highlands.
The second phase of consultation is now under way over BT's plans to scrap 110 of its public payphones in locations as far flung as Altnaharra in Sutherland, Applecross in Wester Ross and Fort Augustus in the Great Glen.
Dozens of other cities, towns and villages are also at risk of losing at least one phone box.
And Highland Council is urging people to get in touch and share their views over the at risk boxes.
The second phase of the consultation will run until October 24 with responses to be sent by email to policy6@highland.gov.uk.
Regulation set out by Ofcom, the independent regulator, states that local authorities have the responsibility to co-ordinate consultations to gather views about proposed payphone removals.
Following 136 responses to the first phase of the consultation, this feedback has been published online at the Council website at https://www.highland.gov.uk/consultations
The council is encouraging members of the public to look at BT’s proposals and comment, giving as much information as possible about the public call boxes which have been proposed for removal.
Following the end of the consultation, a final notice of decision will be published which will outline Highland Council’s position on the proposed removals.
Highland Council Leader, Cllr Margaret Davidson said: “Let’s be clear that these are BT’s proposals that we are consulting on and Highland Council is keen to know public opinion on all of these phones.
“It’s important that as many people as possible reply to the survey so that we can build an accurate picture of individuals’ and community views and needs.
She added: “I urge members of the public to respond to the consultation. People living in the areas of proposed closures are in the best position to know the impact the removal of a payphone would have on them and their community.”
More detail on the consultation is available at https://www.highland.gov.uk/consultations and will be open until midnight on October 24.
For further information and to respond to the consultation, contact the Highland Council Policy Unit at policy6@highland.gov.uk or phone 01463 702 006.
