City of York Council countering threat of phone box closures (York Liberal Democrats)

York Liberal Democrats <info@yorklibdems.org.uk>

City of York Council countering threat of phone box closures

October 30, 2008 12:00 AM

City of York Council is working to prevent the removal of several telephone boxes, including many traditional red phone boxes, which are under threat by BT.

The Council has received notification of 24 phone boxes in the City of York area which BT is threatening to remove because they are not economically viable, as fewer people are using them with mobile phones being so popular now.

On hearing that several phone boxes may be scrapped in the York area, Cllr Keith Aspden, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Fulford, asked the Council for details of which phone booths are under threat, and whether the old fashioned red telephone box in his own ward - along Main Street in Fulford - was under threat.

Cllr Keith Aspden said, "Fortunately the red phone box in Main Street is marked as 'listed' property, and is not therefore under threat. Several others in York are also saved because of their listed status, but for those that aren't, but are still seen as important and historic community assets, the threat of removal is very concerning."

Many of the 'K6's (old fashioned, British red telephone kiosks) are 'Grade II Listed Buildings'. There are, however, some K6s and others that are still threatened, and City of York Council is in discussion with English Heritage in the hope that these K6s can be saved, and is also listening to the concerns of parish councils.

Some parish councils have been consulted, and some of these - but not all - have objected to the loss of their local phone box. There has been a limited public consultation with notices to the public being put in the phone boxes themselves. The Council is making representations to BT on behalf of residents and parish councils by the beginning of December.

Cllr Aspden added, "The consultation has been very limited - putting notices in the phone boxes is hardly a far-reaching consultation! I understand though, that the Council is making considerable efforts to prevent the closure of these phone boxes which many people still find very useful, particularly in rural areas, and regard as historic features of their communities. "