Last updated 08:38, Friday, 04 July 2008

BRITISH Telecom is planning to remove 44 phone boxes across Allerdale which they say are little used by consumers.

Allerdale council this week released the list of payphones earmarked for closure.

The council is now inviting residents and interested parties to get in touch about the proposals.

Comments concerning the payphones must be submitted to Allerdale council by July 31.

Calls made from payphones have more than halved in the last three years, according to BT, with 60 per cent in Britain no longer covering their cost.

The phones are situated both in urban and rural areas and responses to the consultation should try and focus on the following Ofcom criteria.

The type of local housing around a phone box may show how important it is to an area.

If it is surrounded by people who use their own homes there is a chance they will have home or mobile phones.

However, if there is a lot of rented properties or residential care homes, it could be that people need the phone box.

Many people feel reassured that phone boxes are available in case of an emergency.

Responses need to consider whether a particular phone box is more likely to be used for emergency calls than any other reason.

For example, if it is near a known accident black-spot it may strengthen the argument for it being kept.

Poor or sporadic mobile network coverage can also be an important factor in deciding whether or not a public telephone box is needed in a certain area.

Details of the location of the payphones proposed for removal are available on the Allerdale council website www.allerdale.gov.uk.
The boxes earmarked for removal include:
King Street, Aspatria

Lawson Street, Aspatria

Bassenthwaite

Bewaldeth

Sunderland

Bridekirk

Dovenby

Thirlmere

Moorclose Road, Salterbeck, Workington

Broughton Cross

Bromfield, near Aspatria

South Terrace, Great Broughton

Buttermere

Kirklands, Camerton

Pardshaw

Deanscales

Sunnyslack, Broughton Moor;

Embleton

Bullgill

Bowflatts, Great Clifton;

Hayton, near Aspatria

Beckfoot, Silloth

Low Brigham

Keswick

Bridgefoot

Loweswater

Allerby

The Mount, Papcastle

Queens Avenue, Seaton

Skinburness Drive, Silloth.