WAVERLEY looks set to lose more than half of its public payphones this summer, as a new hit-list drawn up by BT threatens 48 of the borough's call boxes with the axe and has been dubbed "the end of an era" by some residents. The list of 48 payphones, many of which are traditional red call boxes, has been put together by BT as they "no longer cover their costs" in today's world of mobile phones. According to the national telecoms company there are currently more than 60,000 public payphones in Britain but 99 per cent of households now have a land-line and 85 per cent have a mobile phone. Those on the list are currently subject to a 90-day consultation period that runs out on July 2. However, many claim to know nothing about the proposals to remove what are often viewed as "historic landmarks" in many villages and towns across the borough. Alongside the 48 that are under consultation are a further four boxes that BT will be removing without consultation due to a change in the law. BT no longer needs to consult on the removal of phones that have another within 400 metres, which means residents and councils will be able to do nothing to save the four that are not on the list. These include a box in Milford, one in Cranleigh and two in Farnham town centre - one in the Woolmead and another in West Street. Cliff Puttnam, postmaster at Rowledge Post Office, was upset to hear of the imminent loss of the old red telephone box directly outside his shop. "I wasn't aware of if but now I am I think we should start up a petition to keep it," he told The Herald. "I've not heard a thing about them removing it and usually in a close-knit place like this somebody would have said something. I'll definitely put a sign up in the window and start a petition as people need to know about it." Sharon Paice, also a postmaster based at Rushmoor Post Office, said: "It's sad really because it's the end of an era, but I don't think there's a phone left in our phone box anyway and if it's used for anything then it's as a public convenience." Although Waverley claims to have sent copies of BT's letter to the parish councils affected, Mike Millerchip, chairman of Frensham Parish Council, last week told The Herald that he knew nothing about the proposals. "I suppose that unless you are reading Waverley's website from top to bottom every day then you wouldn't know about these things, I didn't know anything about it," he said. "However, we have been down this path about 10 years ago and at that point people were saying that they wanted phone boxes but back then mobile phones weren't as common as they are now. "Whether we feel that times have changed now I don't know. We used to have an emergency phone on the recreation ground but we realised that it wasn't worth having as everyone has a mobile now. In the past we've decided to keep these things but we'll have to wait and see what people want to do this time." Waverley explained that despite the pleas of ignorance from many in the borough the council are engaging with the public on the matter. A spokesman for the council said: "We are actively seeking the views of local people. An email was sent out to all parish councils on April 22 and we've had some letters back that have resulted in consultation with BT to discuss some of the boxes on the list. "We're looking to work with the local parish councils to find out if there's a need that overrides the economic argument laid down by BT." He went on to explain that Waverley boasts nine grade two listed phone boxes that cannot be removed but that BT will be removing the four that fall within 400 metres of another box. "The addition of the four to be removed without consultation means that more than 50 per cent of phone boxes in Waverley are being put forward for removal by BT." Residents are being urged by the council to go online to register their comments as Waverley has a right to use a veto if there are extenuating circumstances requiring the retention of certain boxes. If a box is in an area with particularly poor mobile phone reception or near a known traffic black spot then Waverley could use its veto but it won't be possible unless people leave comments online. "The public consultation form is now up and running on the website and we want people to use it. The implications of that could mean that we use our veto, which is why it's so important that we get community views on this." To read the letter from BT, which includes the list of boxes under consultation, or register a comment in relation to the proposals visit http://www.waverley.gov.uk">www.waverley.gov.uk
