Conservative Parliamentary candidate Simon Hart and Assembly Member Angela Burns are pictured with an iconic K6 red phone box
A campaign has been launched by Carmarthenshire Conservative politicians to save the county’s iconic red phone boxes.
BT is offering local community councils across the country the chance to adopt underused phone boxes for a nominal £1. The phones would be removed, but the box left as a local landmark.
But so far Laugharne and Whitland community councils have both voted not to adopt kiosks.
Now Conservative Parliamentary candidate Simon Hart and local AM Angela Burns are urging BT to let other organisations adopt the boxes instead.
“I think many of us would be sad to see the old red K6 phone boxes disappear from our villages,” said Mr Hart.
“I appreciate that some are underused because of mobile phones and I can see why BT needs to remove the phones from the least visited ones.
“But the red boxes are part of our heritage. They serve as landmarks and add to our visual landscape.”
Mrs Burns added: “I can understand why the councils are being cautious about adopting them because they are worried about the upkeep. What we’re lobbying for is for other societies or even individuals to be allowed to adopt them instead.”
Mr Hart has now written to BT asking for clarification on the adoption rules.
“I am sure there are heritage groups in some of these communities who would like to keep their boxes and possibly even local residents willing to take them on.
“I’m sure many people have got reasons for being fond of their local red phone box and wouldn’t want to see them go.”
