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02
Jul
BT disconnects Ripon city centre's final payphone
The last BT payphone in Ripon city centre has been decommisioned, despite calls for it to be retained for emergency use by people who don't have mobile phones.
Ripon City Council, which has adopted three of the four kiosks that stand in line on Market Square, asked BT to keep one payphone in use, but the telecommunications giant turned down the request.
Council leader Andrew Williams told the Stray Ferret:
When BT advised us that they were planning to decommission the city centre's final payphone we objected, because not everybody has a mobile phone and there are also times when mobile networks are down.
With both of those factors in mind, we pointed out that there may be situations, such as medical emergencies, when the availability of a payphone could prove vital.
BT's sign on the newly-disconnected payphone kiosk, says it is 'protected for future generations'
Now that BT has made its decision, the city council is seeking to take over responsbility for the fourth telephone box as part of BT's 'Adopt a Kiosk' scheme, which enables redundant kiosks to be retained for community use, such as tourist information points.
Cllr Williams said:
Though we are disappointed with BT's decision, the iconic kiosks still remain as part of Ripon's heritage and will be put to good use as a community asset.
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