MP challenges BT chiefs on phone boxes under threat

10.30.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 15th May 2008

The threat to phone boxes in Northumberland's villages was raised by Berwick MP, Alan Beith, in a meeting with BT's Director of Payphones this week. BT are consulting councils throughout the country on a programme which proposes that over 40 call boxes in the Berwick constituency should be taken out of service.

Mr. Beith, who has checked on the mobile phone coverage in the areas concerned, told BT:

"Several of the boxes - such as Mindrum, Kirknewton, Middleton, Chatton and Biddlestone, are in areas with virtually no mobile phone coverage, and are therefore a vital emergency service. Some of the others are relatively well used and have not been the subject of costly vandalism.

"Alnwick, Berwick and Castle Morpeth councils have powers to veto individual closures, and I urge people who are concerned about, and use, their local payphone to contact the Council or my office as soon as possible. Although the widespread use of mobile phones has made many payphones uneconomic, many are still needed, and some are essential."

The boxes threatened are:

01665 570224 PCO Rothbury Road, Longframlington NE65 8AH

01665 570234 PCO Pauperhaugh NE65 8JA

01665 574200 PCO Edlingham NE66 2BL

01665 574241 PCO Bolton NE66 2EE

01665 574697 PCO Junction Callaly High House Rd to Yetlington Rd, Whittingham NE66 4RN

01665 575219 PCO Newton on the Moor NE65 9JY

01665 577645 PCO Howick NE66 3LE

01665 578287 PCO Beanley NE66 2DX

01665 579220 PCO Great North Road, Alnwick NE66 2JA

01665 579231 PCO South Charlton NE66 2LY

01665 579232 PCO Rock Village NE66 3SD

01669 630284 PCO Biddlestone NE65 7DT

01670 774271 PCO Harwood NE61 4LF

01670 787382 PCO The Square, Swarland NE65 9JQ

01670 788392 PCO Wingates NE65 8RW

01289 387218 PCO Shoresdean, Berwick Upon Tweed TD15 2NJ

01665 589232 PCO Ellingham, Chathill NE67 5HA

01665 589271 PCO Tughall, Chathill NE67 5EW

01665 720506 PCO Main Street, North Sunderland, Seahouses NE68 7TT

01668 215238 PCO Chatton, Alnwick, Northumberland NE66 5QA

01668 215241 PCO Wooler NE71 6EZ

01668 216254 PCO Kirknewton, Wooler NE71 6TR

01668 217251 PCO Old Bewick, Old Bewick, Alnwick NE66 4DZ

01668 281211 PCO Doddington, Wooler NE71 6AL

01668 281411 PCO High Humbleton, Wooler NE71 6SU

01668 281440 PCO Weetwood Avenue, Wooler NE71 6AG

01668 281533 PCO Wooler NE71 6RD

01670 772284 PCO Middleton NE61 4RE

01670774273 PCO Cambo NE61 4BA

01670775228 PCO Meldon, NE61 3TW

01670787398 PCO The Village, Eshott NE65 9EW

01670788392 PCO Wingates NE65 8RW

01670790297 PCO Grangemoor Road, Widdrington NE61 5PU

01670790318 PCO Fernybeds, Widdrington NE61 5RG

01670860206 PCO Cresswell Road, Ellington NE61 5HR

01670860393 PCO Ellington NE61 5HY

01670860663 PCO Albion Terrace, Lynemouth NE61 5SZ

01890820312 PCO Main St, Cornhill On Tweed TD12 4UJ

01890820313 PCO Flodden Crescent, Branxton, Cornhill On Tweed TD12 4SP

01890830618 PCO Carham, Cornhill On Tweed TD12 4RW

01890850200 PCO Mindrum TD12 4QG

01890850225 PCO Mindrum TD12 4QR