Residents of Southington may soon see the removal of their local telephone box, as BT has proposed its decommissioning due to low usage.
The traditional red phone box, located near the village, has stood for years as both a functional service and a familiar landmark. However, with the widespread use of mobile phones, BT has determined that the payphone is no longer necessary.
A BT spokesperson said: “As part of our ongoing review of payphone usage across the country, we have identified the phone box in Southington as underutilised. We are now seeking feedback from the community before making a final decision.”
Local councils and residents will have the opportunity to express their views on the proposal. In similar cases, some communities have chosen to adopt their phone boxes for alternative uses, such as housing defibrillators, book exchanges, or community noticeboards.
Anyone wishing to comment on the potential removal should contact BT on 0800 661610 and select option 1.
For those interested in preserving the phone box, there are schemes available to repurpose them for community benefit. More details can be found on BT’s ‘Adopt a Kiosk’ website.
What are your thoughts? Should Southington keep its phone box, or is it time for it to go? Let us know your views.