DESPITE the increasing demise of public payphones in West Devon, telecommunications giant BT this week made reassurances that no kiosk would be removed where there was a 'clear social need' for its services. BT is consulting with West Devon Borough Council over the proposed removal of 41 payphones in the area, which do not have another kiosk within 400 metres. A further six more are now earmarked for closure without consultation because there is at least one payphone nearby — at Brook Street, Tavistock; Old Exeter Road, Tavistock; Leg O'Mutton Corner, Yelverton; The Croft, South Zeal; Plymouth Road, Horrabridge and Simmons Way, Okehampton. BT believes some payphones are no longer needed because of a dramatic decline in usage in recent years, mainly due to the increasing use of mobile phones. West Devon and Torridge MP Geoffrey Cox is campaigning against BT plans to scrap rural pay phones. Mr Cox said: 'While the use of public phones has declined in recent years, many people in Torridge and West Devon still rely on them to make calls, especially in isolated rural areas where mobile phone reception is either patchy or non-existent. 'Anybody who is concerned about a nearby phone box closing should contact me or the council as quickly as possible.' Adam Symons, the Liberal Democrats parliamentary spokesman for the constituency, claims nearly every village and town in West Devon will be affected, as BT seeks to shut down the least profitable phones. He said: 'The true extent of the closures only becomes apparent if you delve more deeply. It would have been good if BT would have been upfront about the phone boxes they intend to shut, rather than wait for people to find out. 'More importantly, some of these phone boxes are used nearly 10 times per day. In some places, like Bridestowe, they are essential for holidaymakers, walkers and campers, especially where mobile phone coverage is poor.' Jason Mann, regional spokesman for BT, said : 'We have been completely upfront and honest about our proposals. We're committed to meeting our obligation to providing a public payphone service, but the demand there once was just isn't there any more — usage has halved in the last two years. 'Where we no longer believe a kiosk is needed we seek to remove it. This has been the case for a number of years because of the continuing decline in payphone usage. We write to the local authority to obtain consent to remove any kiosk which doesn't have an alternative payphone within 400 metres. If there is a clear social need for any of these payphones, then they won't be removed. 'In West Devon, we are consulting with the local authority about 41 kiosks which don't have another payphone within 400 metres. Of these, more than half make an average of less than one call a month and some haven't made a single call in the past year. 'There are a further six we are planning to remove, which don't require consultation because there is at least one other kiosk nearby. 'It is incorrect that any of the West Devon payphones proposed for closure are used nearly ten times a day. 'The public consultation is the responsibility of the local authority. They will consult with the local community and feed back their decision to BT.'
