Corfe Castle at sunrise
BT is proposing to remove 42 public phone boxes from across Purbeck.
The 42 phone boxes are detailed on the council’s website at www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/phoneboxes/purbeck along with the number of calls made from each phone box in the last 12 months. BT proposes to remove these phone boxes on the basis of low usage and the extent of mobile network coverage.
BT has placed notices in all the relevant phone boxes. Purbeck District Council is required to find out what local people think about BT’s plans to remove the phone boxes.
The District Council has advised all the parishes across the district which are affected and most will be considering the issue in upcoming parish and town council meetings. Anyone interested can attend these meetings, details of which can be found on town and parish council websites and notice boards.
Communities can object or agree to the loss of service and phone box. Alternatively, phone boxes can be ‘adopted’ minus equipment for £1. Many phone boxes around the country have already been adopted and put to new community uses.
Councillor Gary Suttle, Leader of Purbeck District Council, said: “The council has been made responsible for co-ordinating consultation responses to these proposals and we will be responding to BT on a case-by-case basis. The council is not in any way responsible for the proposals put forward by BT
“We have already contacted parish councils for their views, but I also urge local residents to take a look at our website to find out which phone boxes are in question and whether they agree or disagree to them being removed.”
Comments must be with the District Council by 2 January 2017. People can either complete the online survey at www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/phoneboxes/purbeck; send an email to benjaminwebb@purbeck-dc.gov.uk (marked ‘Phone box removal’ and identifying the phone box in question); or write to Benjamin Webb, Design and Conservation Officer, Purbeck District Council, Westport House, Worgret Road, Wareham BH20 4PP.
