Communications firm BT is proposing to remove seven telephone boxes from towns and villages.

The boxes earmarked for closure in Sittingbourne and on Sheppey are in The Street, Borden; Grovehurst Road, Kemsley; Warden Bay Road, Warden; Sheerness High Street; Marine Parade, Sheerness; North Road, Queenborough and Minster Road, Minster.

BT is proposing to decommission and remove the payphones because they are underused.

According to BT figures, in the past 12 months, some of these payphones had been used as little as 14 times, with even the most active one used just over 400 times – so little more than once a day.

There is now an 11-week consultation period, during which time the public can have their say on the fate of the phones.

BT says the use of payphones across the country has declined by more than 90 per cent in the past decade, and the need for payphones in emergency situations continues to diminish.

It added that at least 90 per cent of the UK has either 3G or 4G coverage and can call emergency services from their mobile phone, even without credit or coverage from their mobile provider.

Cllr Richard Palmer (Swale Ind), cabinet member for community at Swale council, said the authority wanted to make sure BT properly understood the implications of removing the boxes by asking people who live in these areas what they thought.

He added: “We know most people have mobile phones these days, but there are still those that don’t, and we want to try to make sure their views are taken into account.

“The consultation period is open and we encourage those interested to have their say on the proposed removal. We will collect everyone’s comments and pass them onto BT for consideration.”

The consultation is open until Friday, May 1. Once complete, the results will be compiled and sent to BT.

Comments and feedback should be sent to the Economic Development Team, Swale House, East Street, Sittingbourne, ME10 3HT or emailed to btconsultation@swale.gov.uk

The consultation comes after residents across the county have been coming up with unique ways to save our iconic red phone boxes.

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