Removal and Retention of Payphones

Final response to consultation from BT proposing the removal of nine payphones within the Borough

In April 2008, Bracknell Forest Council was informed that BT wanted to remove nine payphones in the Borough. BT informed us that the payphones were not being used sufficiently and therefore no longer covering their costs. A Public Notice was displayed by BT in each payphone affected giving the public 42 days to comment.

In addition, the consultation was advertised in the weekly list of applications circulated to all Town/Parish Councils and Members, as well as, being published on the Council’s website.

BT has what is known as a 'Universal Service Obligation' to provide adequate coverage of public payphones. In recent years the needs of consumers have changed drastically with the increase in mobile phone ownership. Revenue from telephone boxes decreased by nearly half between 2000 and 2006 and BT states that six out of ten are actually losing money.

In 2005 Ofcom (Office of Communications) completed a review of the provision of public telephone boxes in the UK and agreed a new set of rules which BT must follow if it wishes to remove the only telephone box in a local area. The rules give local authorities a veto on such removals although BT has the right of appeal. Further information about the process of removing payphones can be found on the Ofcom website.

Regulatory requirements mean that Bracknell Forest Council has to make two formal notifications about its decisions following consultation on proposed payphone removal. The first was published on the Council’s website on 1 July 2008. No further representations were received following the expiry of the consultation period on 15 July 2008.

The table in the Final Notice summarises the Council's final recommendation to BT. It forms Schedule A of the ‘Final Notification’ on the removal of the proposed payphones based on a variety of factors, including consultation responses.