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Victory for Alan on red phone boxes Hundreds of Britain’s famous red telephone boxes that were under threat of removal now have the opportunity to be saved, under new plans that have been secured by Alan Duncan. In April this year, BT announced that it was seeking to reduce the number of payphones in the UK by 9,000, due to widespread network disuse. Initially the closure programme was to include the iconic red kiosks designed by British architect Gilbert Scott – but after Alan wrote to BT and the telecoms regulator Ofcom suggesting an alternative option, BT agreed to review its policy. BT has now written again to Mr Duncan to confirm that they will pursue his approach. Under this new ‘heritage’ policy, BT will now allow local authorities that wish to maintain red telephone boxes to ‘adopt’ them, minus the communication equipment – thereby allowing communities to retain a unique part of the British landscape. Commenting, Alan said: ‘I’m delighted that BT has agreed to what was always a perfectly simple proposal to ensure that red phone boxes do not disappear into the great grey blur of the modern British streetscape. ‘I’m pleased and grateful to BT for responding positively to my request. I’ve campaigned for years in favour of Britain’s traditional streetscape and I’m delighted that they have been both sensible and constructive in adopting my proposal.’
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