Telephone Box cutbacks – CNPA voices concern

The CNPA is to tackle BT over plans to dramatically reduce the number of public telephone boxes. BT began a review of phone boxes in April 2002 and the company plans to lose 1,030 call boxes in Scotland. It blames the rise in mobile phone usage for the demise of the public telephone box.

The company plans to remove 103 public boxes in Aberdeenshire; 45 in Angus; 257 in Highland and 48 in Moray – with a significant proportion of these likely to be in the Cairngorms National Park.

CNPA Board Member, Eleanor MacKintosh said:”This is a damaging move for our rural areas, especially where mobile phone receptions are poor. This proposal by BT raises issues of health and safety and will damage tourism in the area.”

The CNPA Board will write to BT outlining its concerns and ask to be formally consulted on the issue.