Council set to object to BT plans to remove telephone boxes from Daventry district

The communications giant has contacted the authority with proposals to remove a number of payphones in the district.

The council has published a draft response to BT’s proposals, but is also encouraging residents, parish councils and other interested groups to give their views on it.

It is proposing to object to the removal of eight modern payphones in Byfield, Brixworth, Creaton, Whilton Locks, Station Road and Market Place in Long Buckby, and at The Cherwell and Trafalgar Way in Daventry.

But it has said it would agree to proposals to remove the telephone equipment from a traditional red K6 box on Main Street in Cottesbrooke – but only if the local community goes ahead with plans to adopt the box to use it for other purposes.

The red K6 phone boxes were designed by the architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott and were produced in 1935 to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of King George V.

If local people could not come up with a plan to retain it however, then the district council would object to the BT proposals.

Residents have until 5pm on Monday September 28 to give their feedback on the draft response. Councillors will then consider a final response to BT.

The draft response and details of how to respond can be found on DDC’s website at www.daventrydc.gov.uk/consultation