BT consulting on plans to remove 50 payphones in Leeds

A telephone box at Warley, Halifax, has been turned into a museum after it was adopted by the community.

In total, 50 payphones in locations across the city are currently the subject of consultation, with around a third of all Yorkshire payphones under threat of removal.

Communications giant BT said waning usage and an increasing number of people with mobile phones were major contributing factors.

“BT is committed to providing a public payphone service, but with usage declining by over 90 per cent in the last decade, we’ve continued to review and remove payphones which are no longer needed,” a spokesman said.

“Any removal of payphones is carried out in strict adherence to the Ofcom guidelines and, where appropriate, with the consent of local authorities.

“In all instances where there’s no other payphone within 400 metres, we’ll ask for consent from the local authority to remove the payphone.

“As an alternative to removal, we will continue to actively promote the Adopt a Kiosk scheme to all councils whilst being committed to maintaining the payphones that remain.”

BT has stressed that with all those under consultation, none will be removed if an objection is received from the relevant local authority.