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Communities appeal to BT to save at-risk red phone boxes

Claire Quinn and Eve Coleman
BBC News NI
Alan Lewis Red telephone box. It has panelled glass walls, a crown emblem at the top with 'telephone' printed below it. A red post box can be seen to the right of it with a small stone building in the distance. Fields can be seen in the background. The sky is blue with some clouds.Alan Lewis
One of the phone boxes at risk of removal is on the Woodgrange Road just outside Downpatrick

They used to be a common sight across Northern Ireland but with fewer than 150 left, two County Down communities have a simple appeal for BT: Save our red phone boxes.

Community members were left "raging" when they saw notices from BT in the phone boxes in Strangford and Downpatrick that said: "Unfortunately, it just isn't used enough for us to carry on running it."

The one in Strangford had been converted into a lending library, which a local woman said "brought people together".

Latest figures from BT show that 145 of the phone boxes remain in Northern Ireland, down from 157 three years ago and 201 back in 2016.

Alan Lewis A sign from BT saying "We're planning to remove this payphone". Smaller text underneath says "Unfortunately, it just isn't used enough for us to carry on running it"Alan Lewis

In a statement, BT said they are "continuing to review our remaining estate of payphones – removing those that are no longer being used, in line with Ofcom's revised guidance on payphone removals".

Payphone use has declined sharply over recent years but Ofcom said they can still be vital to local communities.

Aside from the Strangford phone box, one located on the Woodgrange Road just outside Downpatrick is also under threat.

In a story first reported by the Belfast Telegraph, Newry, Mourne and Down councillor Alan Lewis said he is planning to bring a motion to the council to ask them to investigate the prospect of adopting the phone boxes.

'Focal point in Strangford'

Denise Feenan A red phone box. A stone wall and trees are behind it and a large building can be seen in the background. Book are inside the phone boxDenise Feenan
The other phone box at risk of removal in Strangford has been turned into a lending library by local residents

Denise Feenan, who works at a playgroup in Strangford, said she visited the phone box library every other week to pick out two or three books to take home.

She also donates books she thinks older people in the community might enjoy.

Ms Feenan said she was "a bit raging" about the prospect of it going.

"Some older people here are avid readers but they cannot drive to libraries in the area," she said.

"They can walk down to this phone box and find something they want to take home."

She said the phone box is a "focal point in Strangford" where local people can meet up and socialise.

"It brings people together," she told BBC News NI.

"Hopefully BT don't take it away."

'It's part of the community'

Mark McMillan Five residents in front of a red phone box. A man on the far left has his elbow placed on a red post box, he is wearing a wax jacket and light blue jeans. The man second from left is wearing a blue half zip top, dark blue jeans and light brown shoes. The woman in the middle is inside the phone box holding the phone to her ear, she is wearing a black coat and trousers. The man second from right is wearing a flat cap, purple fleece zip jacket and dark trousers. The man on the far right has white hair, wearing a black puffer jacket and blue jeans.Mark McMillan
Local residents, including Mark McMillan (pictured second from right) look after their red phone box outside Ballynahinch in County Down

Mark McMillan, who lives just outside Ballynahinch, County Down, and works with other local residents to repair and maintain the red phone box in their area, known locally as Shaw's Corner.

It is not at risk of removal but Mr McMillan told BBC News NI it is "a focal point" for the area.

"It's a feature in our area, everybody knows the phone box Shaw's Corner. The light burns in it at night time and there are people who still use it," he told BBC News NI.

"My neighbour lives right beside it, he always called it his office because he only got a mobile phone a few years ago and he used it for making all his phone calls for his work.

"People stop and talk and use it as a meeting point, it's part of the community.

"We will always look after it."

'Significant pieces of civic pride'

Alan Lewis Alan Lewis in front of a red phone box. He has dark hair and beard, wearing a dark blue blazer, light shirt and check tie.Alan Lewis
Newry, Mourne and Down councillor Alan Lewis said he is planning to bring a motion to the council to ask them to investigate the prospect of adopting the phone boxes

Mr Lewis said the Woodgrange phone box, just outside Downpatrick, served a small, rural hamlet. describing it as 2an iconic piece of infrastructure".

"I think that where local residents are concerned – yes BT are looking to save some money and economise but there needs to be some sort of understanding that these are historically significant pieces of civic pride that add a wee bit of character and flair to the local area.

"I would far rather that BT would recognise the character and significance of these, I refuse to believe that it's costing that much to upkeep these wee things, especially when it's members of the local community that is helping to look after it."

A red phone box. It has panelled glass walls, a crown emblem at the top with 'telephone' printed below it. Grass verges with daffodils are in the background and a tree is to the left.
Although payphone use has declined in recent years, the red boxes have become a feature in rural towns, such as this box on the Megargy Road outside Magherafelt in County Londonderry

In statement, BT said that as part of their "wider programme to remove underused payphones across the UK, BT is consulting with local councils on the removal of payphones".

"BT continues to encourage communities to adopt kiosks that are no longer being used," the statement added.

Since BT introduced the Adopt a Kiosk programme in 2008, around 7,400 phone boxes have been taken on by communities across the UK for £1 each.

The kiosks can be adopted by local authorities, community or parish councils or registered charities.