BT payphones
This page includes any ongoing consultations by BT with ourselves as the 'relevant public body', as well as completed consultations.
We're seeking initial feedback from the public as well as from any interested bodies (including parish councils and town councils), after BT commenced a round of consultation with us regarding the proposed removal of 17 operational payphones across the county. This consultation runs through until 9 April 2026. Given that the Easter break falls in this period of time, our intention is to submit responses in advance of that date if at all possible.
16 of these payphones are modern style KX100 kiosks. These kiosks can only be adopted to house defibrillators. Individuals can't adopt kiosks themselves.
The other payphone on the current list is a traditional red K6 kiosk, located by the Abbey in Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury. Red kiosks may be adopted by town and parish councils and charitable organisations for any community use. This one is listed, meaning that the structure won't be removed should there not be any local interest in its adoption. BT have advised that in that scenario the kiosk structure would be locked by them following the removal of the operational telephony. We will be asking the Town Council direct if it wishes to adopt this kiosk for community use, or if it wishes us to make representations against its removal as an operational payphone.
We'd like to thank members of the public and town and parish councils in advance for their input in the responses that we're proposing to make for these payphones.
Background
Shropshire Council no longer has the power of veto over removals, following changes made by Ofcom to the universal service obligation placed on BT and KCOM, which came into effect in June 2022 after a period of national consultation. Ofcom have instead replaced the local veto with a set of criteria to assess reasonable user needs prior to the removal of a ‘last at a site’ payphone or public call box (PCB).
The Ofcom criteria sets out to protect last at a site PCBs where:
- They don't have coverage from all four mobile network providers; or
- They're located in an area with a high frequency of accidents or suicides; or
- They've made 52 or more calls over the past 12 months (ie the equivalent of one call per week); or
- There's other evidence of a reasonable need for the PCB
Please note that PCB adoption can't be made by individuals, and can't take place if the criteria for removal isn't met. For example, BT records may indicate that mobile phone coverage isn't sufficient at a site, or that the PCB in question is the one that they've decided should remain as 'last at a site'. Ofcom advises that: “A site is defined as 400 metres walking distance from the next nearest PCB.”
- For all 17 on the listing, BT advise that calls are below the threshold of 52: however, this does not account for those where there is local knowledge that the payphone may have been out of order, so we would welcome input on that.
- BT also assert that mobile phone coverage is at 3 out of 4 or 4 out of 4 for all four mobile network providers. We are carrying out a check on the mobile phone coverage data using independent research, and will advise parish and town council individually if there are anomalies.
- BT also do not have details of other reasonable need, which could include the need for emergency access in areas of high flood risk or areas where there is a high frequency of accidents. We are also mindful of the need to ensure that we have local data on helpline need or helpline usage, particularly in rural and remote areas.
If interested bodies would like us to make representation for retention of the payphones as operational payphones, or indicate support for their removal in their entirety, or if members of the public would like to make contact and share their own views, please email lois.dale@shropshire.gov.uk with your views and any local knowledge and evidence around need for the payphone to either be retained or removed.
Similarly, if interested bodies would like to request adoption of their payphone kiosk, involving removal of the operational telephony and retention of the structure, this is an offer made by BT, and is not a requirement under Ofcom obligations. Contact needs to please be made directly with BT with reference to the following details from them, in order for this to be logged and for any queries to be resolved before the 9 April closing date. Please could we ask you to let us know for our records as well, and please do not hesitate to contact us with any queries on what is involved.
Adoption opportunity
“Most red kiosks can be adopted by local councils, registered charities and private landowners for just £1, transforming them into defibrillator stations, mini-libraries or other creative ventures. They can also adopt modern glass boxes if they want to house a defibrillator. More information is available at bt.com/adopt.
“Adoption requests should be registered as soon as possible with payphones@bt.com, even if BT have not yet made an initial decision. Please Note: kiosks identified for removal could be removed shortly after a final decision has been made. Early registration of interest could mean adoptees avoid disappointment.
“Please send in the details of the interested body to email address payphones@bt.com detailing request to adopt, and providing contact number and postal address for the adopting party that the correspondent is representing. “ [Source: BT]
Further notes
An initial listing from BT is available via this page, titled BT Copy Of Shropshire Consultation Listings Annex 08012026.
We have a set of online resources to support local parish and town councils with regard to BT payphones.
The resources have been developed with Historic Environment colleagues to include FAQs about adopting kiosks, and about caring for kiosks.
If there is a kiosk not on the list in which there is local interest in adoption, please note that PCB adoption can't be made by individuals, and can't take place if the criteria for removal isn't met. For example, BT records may indicate that mobile phone coverage isn't sufficient at a site, or that the PCB in question is the one that they've decided should remain as 'last at a site'. Ofcom advises that: “A site is defined as 400 metres walking distance from the next nearest PCB.”
Ofcom carried out their consultation in November 2021 around proposed changes to the universal service obligation placed upon BT and KCOM. Shropshire Council was one of the 25 respondents to this consultation. Our response is included on this page, along with the subsequent Ofcom report of June 2022.