British Telecom Consultation Over Telephone Box Closures

EDM number 2125 in 2007-08, proposed by Paul Farrelly on 21/07/2008.
Categorised under the topics of Cultural heritage and Telecommunications.

That this House notes that British Telecom has launched a consultation regarding the possible closure of up to 4,500 telephone boxes across the country; recognises, with the take-up of mobile telephones particularly, that many of these are becoming increasingly uneconomic and that BT has to strike a balance between subsidy and provision of a national service; notes, however, many are in rural areas, where they provide a reassuring presence in the event of an emergency; further notes that many are classic red boxes, based on Giles Gilbert Scott's iconic 1924 design, and are viewed as an important part of our country's heritage; further notes that English Heritage has received over 200 listing applications for such boxes since the consultation began; welcomes, therefore, BT's commitment to review separately the removal of any boxes to which local councils object; urges local parishes and councils to participate fully in the consultation process; and hopes that talks between BT, English Heritage, the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, VisitBritain and other interested bodies will provide a solution for the physical retention, at least, of classic red telephone boxes, where this is desired by local communities as part of the country's heritage.

This motion has been signed by a total of 50 MPs.