Phone box decision welcomed
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Ellon and District councillors Richard Thomson and Anouk Kloppert have welcomed a decision by BT to give the under-threat public phone box at Modley in Ellon a reprieve.
The decision to retain the telephone box - one of a number across Aberdeenshire which had been placed under review by the telecoms giant - was taken after representations were made that it should be kept in service.
On the decision councillor Thomson said: “Despite being a private company, BT still has a public service obligation when it comes to providing a pay phone network.
“The phone box at Modley is one which the stats showed was still being used reasonably regularly - something which I made sure was brought to BT’s attention.
“Not everyone has access at all times to a mobile or land line phone, so it’s good to know that this facility will remain in place for all who might need to use it in future.”
Fellow councillor Anouk Kloppert added: “I’m pleased that BT has opted to keep this phone box in place.
“Even though we are used to the convenience of our mobiles, phone boxes can still be vital in an emergency.
“Instead of looking at ways to shrink the network, I hope that BT start to look at how they can advance the service offered from call boxes, perhaps by adding a wifi hotspot and USB charging sockets.
“That would be a cheap and effective way to make sure that the sites not only stay in use, but remain of use into the future.”
BT confirmed 13 call boxes earmarked for closure Aberdeen will be removed, along with 12 in Aberdeenshire.
Fifteen will remain in use on the back of objections and three have been adopted by communities under BT’s Adopt a Kiosk initiative.
Payphones to be retained are at Monymusk post office, Glebe Land at Kirkton o’ Skene, the village hall in Fintray, Keith Muir Gardens in Drumoak, near Eden Cottage in Echt, Inverey at Braemar, the public toilets on Beltie Road in Torphins, and Modley Place island in Ellon
