27 March 05
Phone Boxes To Be Axed
Henderson Street, Thurso
Millbank Road, Thurso
Heathfield Road, Thurso
Pennyland Drive, Thurso
St Clair Avenue, Scrabster
Claredon
Scotscalder
John O'Groats
Hillhead Ropad, Wick
Milton
Lybster
Dunbeath
Phone Boxes To Be changed To BT Chargecard and Emergency (No Cash)
Dunbeath
Berriedale
Gillock
Westfield
Janetstown
Mey
Freswick
Auckengill
Canisbay
Halkirk
Westerdale
Spittal
Latheron
Occumster
Latheronewheeel
Kirk
Papigoe
Reiss
Watten
West Banks Avenue, Wick
Ulbster
Haster

22 March 05
BT EMBARK ON SECOND ROUND OF PAYPHONE CONSULTATION
Community Councils are being asked to respond by 3 June this year to a second wave of consultation by BT Payphones on the future of payphones in the Highlands.

Having received no objection to the removal of more than 100 payphones in an earlier consultation, BT now wishes to remove a further 44 phones and convert 126 phones to cashless kiosks. It aims to retain a network of 371 payphones currently in use.

BT is posting signs on targeted kiosks to highlight those planned for removal or conversion. It has provided The Highland Council with a list of all payphones in support of the proposal and has included revenue band information.

To address the social demand for payphones in the Highlands, BT proposes to convert 126 phones, which will allow the user to contact emergency services, use a BT Chargecard, make reverse calls and use other pre-paid calling cards of telecommunications' operators, which use a pin system or connections via operator services. The user cannot pay for a call by cash in these phones.

Community Councils are being asked to consider if they wish to object - and on what grounds. Objections should be submitted in writing and addressed to Ken McCorquodale, Policy Office, Chief Executive's Office, The Highland Council, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness IV3 5NX.

The new deadline for sending in objections to a removal of a box will be 3 June 2005.

Ken McCorquodale of Highland council will co-ordinate responses from Highland.  Community Councils will again be consulted with maps showing exactly where boxes within their area are to be removed/changed to cashless together with a further map showing the situation within their particular area.
Objections to particular Kiosks being removed should be sent in writing to - BT Telephone Kiosk Review, Ken McCorkindale, Highland Council, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness IV3 5NX

9 October 04
Highlands MSP Highlights Rural case in Phone Debate
Mary Scanlon MSP highlighted the fact that of 1000 phone boxes facing removal under BT's review, 257 are in the Highlands, a region with some of the most remote areas in Scotland.

Speaking during the Parliamentary debate on Closure of Public Telephone Boxes by BT, Mary said; "British Telecom is said to be discussing an option with Highlands and Islands enterprise which would see kiosks being used as Tourist Information Points, a scheme which would involve BT and Local authority Funding, and would only cost £200 per year to fund.

"They could also look into modernising Payphones to make them Multimedia terminals would seem to be a promising innovation for Remote communities which do not necessarily have broadband access."

"A third option would see the phone boxes being employed as emergency phones, allowing the public to telephone the emergency services for free, as well as 0800 numbers. The kiosks could also have a reverse charge facility which would help the public in emergencies.

Commenting on the current BT consultation review, Mary has said; "I hope that the members of our rural communities will see the consultation as an opportunity to put forward their opinions on the future options for phone boxes, as well as voice their criticisms or worries."

Motion debated:
S2M-1706# Bruce Crawford: Closure of Public Telephone Boxes by BT-That the Parliament recognises the value of public telephone boxes as an important public service throughout Scotland in terms of social need and access to emergency services; is concerned about the plans by British Telecom (BT) to close 165 call boxes in towns and villages throughout mid-Scotland and Fife and around 1,000 around Scotland; supports the many community councils who have expressed grave concern at the planned closure of public call boxes in their communities; considers the consultation process conducted by BT to be inadequate, and therefore believes that BT should consult directly with the communities affected and reconsider its plans.

10 September 04
BT Telephone Kiosks  - Another Rural Downgrading?
Well we never thought the phones around the countryside would disappear as they have been there for so long.  Bill started the quirky section to show you round the area and now many of them may disappear before Bill gets to them.  He is on the case and is snapping more every day if he passes them.  Over the next couple of weeks Bill will try to reach a few more before they disappear for ever unless saved by people contacting BT via the planning officer at Highland Council in Inverness with reasons why they should be kept.  Highland Council has nothing to do with the removal but is acting to co-ordinate the responses to BT.  Make sure you let them know about valid reasons  - not generalisations.  Be specific if you know something that might affect the retention.  Could be poor mobile phone reception area.  You only have until 1 October unless they extend the deadline.  The list below is not yet complete but all the Caithness ones are in.  the list will be extended shortly but check you box to see if a notice is on it.

BT Telephone Kiosk Review - Why Is It Happening?
BT is currently reviewing the number of public payphones across the country and there will be many disappearing from Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross as there is in the rest of Scotland.  BT have informed the local authorities of these proposals.  The increase in mobile phone use is put forward as the main reason why the payphones are no longer being used as they were in the past and the revenue from the phones has dropped by 41%

The 72.000 street phones across the UK have approximately 30,000 that are profitable and cover their costs.  the remaining 42,000 are unprofitable.  BT claim that despite this they realise they have said obligations and have pledged to retain a payphone service across the country for people who depend on it.   For people in rural areas particularly they will often find that their local phone is not profitable.  BT Payphones is a stand alone business and BT says they cannot cross subsidise from other parts of the BT group.  BT say that some local authorities have opted to pay to have some phones upgraded to broadband Multimedia kiosks offering access to the internet and a range of e-government information. as well as retaining the voice service..  A new style of phone offering a phone and cash service is now available.

In Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross there are 240 payphones at present.  44 loss making phones are to be retained as an essential service to the community.  108 phones will be removed.  88 profitable phones will be retained. 

BT are now conducting a public consultation about the changes and have contacted councils, MP's and other representatives of the community with the aim of causing as little inconvenience as possible.

The Consultation
BT is obliged to hold a formal consultation as they are a universal provider of services.  BT wrote to various bodies and community councils have now been made aware of the situation in their area..  Notices have been place in all the kiosks to be removed and the consultation period lasts for 42 days from 20 August 2004.  If BT do not receive any responses they will proceed with their plan to remove the kiosk in each area.  BT will take not of any responses received and then take steps to work with the local authority to find a mutually acceptable solution and discuss possible alternative solutions.

The consultation period is underway from 20 August and comments  regarding a specific payphone require to be sent to The Planning Office of the Local Authority by 1 October 2004.  Reponses should give a reason for each box to be retained.  Blanket reasons like "I think rural phone boxes should be retained" are unlikely to have much affect.  To get any recognition you should state precise reasons like an elderly lady who has no phone depends on that b phone box to call her taxi for medical appointments or such reason and full details names and addresses etc should be quoted.  The more reasons given might help to retains the payphone at any given place.  There are no guarantees except that if there are no responses for a particular payphone it will be removed.

BT have the following contact information for more details on all the notices -
Freephone 0800 661660  email customer.serv.payphones.@bt.com

Where To Send Representations In Highland
In Highland send any comments on a specific payphone to -
BT Telephone Kiosk Review, Ken McCorkindale, Highland Council, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness

Mary attended a meeting today with the head of BT Payphones and was told that BT has written to Local Councils; Community Councils and Cairngorms National Park during their consultation period which was due to end on 1st October, but has now been extended to 22nd October.

BT will only remove payphones after obtaining consensus with the local community, but so far they have had only 26% feedback on their consultation document.

They are seeking to remove those kiosks which are earning £200 or less in income, as each payphone costs £1500 per annum. Having looked at the distances between payphones, they feel that the "Social need is being met".

An option would be the enhancement of payphones, in order to make them 'emergency phone' only, with no money being used.

Another option which BT is discussing with Highlands and Islands Enterprise would be the use of kiosks as Tourist Information Points, a scheme which would involve joint BT and Local Authority Funding. Linked to this would be the option of modernising Payphones to make them Multimedia terminals with Broadband capability. Both of these schemes would be sustainable in the long run.

Commenting on the proposals, Mary has said; "I would ask Councillors, Community Councils and local people to make known any concerns they may have over the removal of payphones.

"In many locations across the Highlands Mobile Phone coverage is not good, and payphones remain an important emergency aid, so it is important that the public are made aware of the current consultation, and can contact BT before the 22nd of October deadline."

GIBSON CALLS ON PEOPLE POWER TO SAVE PAYPHONES
Speak up to save your local phone box' is the message from SNP MSP Rob Gibson to people throughout the Highlands and Islands. His comments come following a briefing from Paul Hendron director of payphones, who said that the more complaints that are registered against the removal of a phone box the less chance there was that it would be removed.

Mr Gibson is encouraging as many people and interested parties such as community councils who don't want their payphones to close to write to the head of planning for their local authority to register their opposition.  He said..."This is a chance for people no matter where they live to keep their phone box should they want it, the more complaints that the director of planning receives then the less likely it is that a phone box will be removed