Their slogan claimed it’s good to talk, but now BT wants to axe more than 100 phone boxes in Northamptonshire.

The firm’s hit list includes 61 phone boxes in south Northamptonshire and a further 31 in the east of the county.

According to BT, 96% of the boxes in the south of the county are not making any money and the cull would see a reduction in the number of payphones to just 46.

Bt also claims,  nationwide, phone box usage has halved in the past two years and calls are falling to 20% each year.

In a statement, the firm said: “UK-wide, less than one call a week is made from more than half of the kiosks in the consultation and less than one call a month is made from a third.

“If there is clear social need for those phones, then they won’t be removed.”

South Northamptonshire Council will place a notice in each of the affected payphones to gauge public opinion before taking an official stance on the matter.

Richard Fox, head of planning and leisure at South Northamptonshire Council, said, “Once we have received all comments from the public and parish councils by the given dates on the notices, we will be able to re-evaluate the responses.

“Our final observations will then be forwarded to BT who will make the final decision.

“We are mainly looking as to whether the removal of the box is detrimental to the character of the area and secondly whether there will be potential loss of the facility for public use.

The Brackley Post – June 20th, 2008

The hit list contains the phone box at Helmdon, Station Road

Look at www.icnorthants.co.uk for the full list (click on the features section)