BT look set to remove a further 26 public telephone boxes from locations across the Isle of Wight – this is in addition to the 16 already being removed.
The universal service provider has notified the Isle of Wight Council of their plan to rip out the rather old fashioned method of communication from some towns and villages on the Island.
Council officials have approached town and parish councils to carry out a consultation to seek the views of the local community, which will inform a decision on whether to argue the proposed removals or to agree with the plan of action.
A total of 851 calls have been made from the 26 telephone boxes in the past 12 months. The least used is Fishbourne Lane and Alum Bay with zero calls made. The most calls were made from The Broadway, Totland – a total of 75.
The total number of telephone boxes set to disappear from our streets is now at 42.
The telephone boxes to be removed in this latest round of cuts include:
• Newport Road, Cowes (junction with St Faiths Road)
• Solent View Road, Cowes (junction with Lower Church Road)
• Shore Road, Cowes (junction with Woodvale Road near hotel)
• Sandown Road, Sandown (outside Flitcroft Homes)
• Yaverland Road, Sandown (outside Isle of Wight Zoo)
• York Road, Sandown (outside social club)
• Talbot Road, Sandown (junction with Lake Hill)
• Barton Road, Newport (outside Number 60)
• Well Street, Ryde (junction with Surrey Street)
• Puckpool Hill, Ryde (entrance to Puckpool Park)
• Rectory Road, Niton (outside Glebe House)
• St Catherine’s Road, Niton (outside The Buddle Inn)
• Coastguard Lane, Brook (outside Hanover House)
• The Broadway, Totland (opposite Broadway Stationers)
• Alum Bay, Totland (opposite Royal Needles Hotel)
• Regina Road, Freshwater (outside Meadow Lark)
• School Green Road, Freshwater (outside Moa Place)
• Gate Lane, Freshwater (opposite Sparks Hotel)
• River Way, Newport (outside Central Garage)
• Bonchurch Village Road, near Ventnor (outside Brookside)
• Bonchurch Shute, near Ventnor (opposite junction with Leeson Road)
• Gills Cliff Road, Ventnor (outside Number 108)
• Oaklyn Gardens, Shanklin (outside Number 55)
• Station Road, Bembridge (opposite Pilot Boat Inn)
• High Street, Wootton (outside telephone exchange)
• Fishbourne Lane, near Wootton (outside Number 61)
The telephone boxes proposed to be removed back in September were:
- Coronation Avenue, Cowes (junction with Newport Road)
- Adelaide Grove, East Cowes (junction of Upper Yarborough Road)
- Avenue Road, Sandown (opposite Sandown Garage)
- Sandown Road, Sandown
- Alverstone Road, Apse Heath (outside Hazlemere)
- Gunville Road, Newport (outside 151)
- Malthouse Green, Newbridge (outside 2)
- Chale Stores and Post Office, Chale Green
- Broadway Cresent, Binstead (outside 109)
- Nettlestone Green, Seaview (outside Apple Acre)
- Main Road, Brighstone (outside The Three Bishops)
- High Street, Godshill (near School Cresent)
- High Street, Wroxall (outside St Johns Church)
- Newport Road, Apse Heath (junction with Ventnor Road)
- Steyne Road, Bembridge (outside 33)
- Lane End Road, Bembridge
What would be useful is a list of public telephone boxes still in use and where located.
Why?
Take them all away. We mobile users are subsidising these vandalised expensive public toilets.
People can afford a mobile, and if they are too stupid to use one, then likely too dim to use a pay phone too.
So what about the elderly whom do not have a mobile? Some don’t even have a landline.
I think they sell big button mobiles for the old and simple residents of the Isle. As the elderly don’t buy many clothes, or go abroad for hols, or go out on the beer, then they ought to have enough cash to buy a idiot proof phone, and If they didn’t go on and on, having to get ever little last unimportant detail correct when talking, their phone bills would be a lot cheaper.
I’m classed as elderly
The tone of your comments insult any person of my generation. I am fully computer literate and own 2 mobile phones. Just because you’re old doesent mead you’re stupid.
now where am I supposed to have a slash at 3am on me way home from the pub?