Beith Secures Future of Beadnell Phone Box

10.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 8th Jul 2009

Berwick's Liberal Democrat MP Sir Alan Beith has saved the phone box on Harbour Road in Beadnell which had been threatened with removal.

The phone box is located in an area with little mobile reception and is vital for emergency calls to the emergency services in this area which is very popular with watersports enthusiasts.

Alan Beith said

"As soon as I heard about the threat to the phone box I knew action had to be taken, and I am very pleased to have received such a quick and positive response from BT, who have agreed that the phone box will stay put."

According to BT a developer had requested the phone box's removal. The concerns of local residents prompted Alan Beith to write to the Chief Executive of BT, requesting that the phone box be allowed to remain and describing it as "a matter of urgency". Now his efforts on behalf of residents and visitors have been rewarded.

A spokesman for BT said: "In light of this objection, I can confirm that we no longer propose to remove this box and it will remain in its current position."