A WOODLEY phone box used more than once a day throughout the year may be scrapped as part of a borough-wide review.
Nine phone boxes across Wokingham, Emmbrook, Woosehill, Twyford, Woodley, and Lower Earley may be permanently removed as payphone use declines.
Phone provider BT has shortlisted the nine boxes for a 90-day consultation on whether the boxes should stay, be fully removed or be taken over by a local group as part of the Adopt a Kiosk Scheme.
Eight of the nine boxes were used between one and nine times per month on average, but the phone box on Crockhamwell Road in Woodley is used an average of 46 times per month throughout the year.
Brian Fennelly, Woodley town centre manager, said he was surprised to hear such high numbers using the box, but was glad to see it is useful to the community.
He told Wokingham.Today: “If it’s of value to the community in Woodley, then it needs to be looked after and maintained better.
“I’ve spoken to BT about the state of it before, to be honest it just looks a bit shabby. I’m surprised by the number of monthly calls, but since it’s used that many times, BT should try to maintain it, also to better represent their own company.”
In 2016, a similar consultation took place across the borough, and 15 phone boxes out of 18 were scrapped as a result. Of the three saved, one is up for consideration again.
Four years ago, the phone box on the junction at Hearn Road and Drovers Way, in Woodley was used on average 33 times per month — more than once a day.
But in the last year, it hasn’t been used once. It may now be removed as a result.
BT has already placed notices within the phone boxes which are affected and have asked for anyone who wishes to pass comment to contact the borough council directly.
A BT spokesperson said: “Most people use mobiles and landlines to make emergency calls and calls made from our public telephones have fallen by around 90% in the past decade. We consider a number of factors before consulting on the removal of payphones including whether others are available nearby and usage.
“We’re consulting with Wokingham Borough Council on the removal of nine payphones, providing communities with the chance to comment.
“As part of the consultation, we are also offering communities the chance to adopt traditional red heritage phone boxes for just £1 through our Adopt a Kiosk scheme.
“Adopted kiosks can be turned into a community asset, such as a defibrillator site or mini library.”
To comment, email: Community.Engagement.Localities@wokingham.gov.uk by Saturday, October 10.
For more information, visit: bt.com/adopt
