Black Isle community gives reprieve for iconic red phone box a warm reception; BT consulting on axing more than 100 across Highlands
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A BLACK Isle community’s campaign to save its iconic red telephone box has been successful – despite the fact that not a single call was made from it for a year.
Locals living near the landmark Alcaig telephone box rallied to the cause when it emerged it was again on a BT hit list of potential closures as part of a long-running cost-cutting drive. It was one of scores across Ross-shire.
The Friends of Alcaig Telephone Box group was prepared to adopt the box if necessary and look at alternative uses
However it emerged this week that the call box has been reprieved because of poor mobile phone reception in the area.
Group chairman Bill Anderson welcomed the turn of events. He said: “I am pleased with result.” He said the group would retain a watching brief.
A BT spokesperson said: “Following concerns about the reliability of mobile coverage in parts of Alcaig, we won’t be removing the public telephone service here. BT continues to review unused payphones across the UK and we’re unlikely to consult on the removal of this payphone within the next 12 months.
“Most people now have a mobile phone and calls made from our public telephones have fallen by around 90 per cent in the past decade. We consider a number of factors before consulting on the removal of payphones.”
Related article: Axe threat to phone boxes sparks objections
