Campaign to keep ‘lifesaving’ phone box

3:00pm Thursday 28th August 2008

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BEWDLEY residents have signed a petition to stop an underused telephone box in the area being removed.

The payphone, near the Halt in Northwood Lane, is one of two booths in the town proposed for removal by British Telecom.

More than 200 people have signed the petition, set up by Labour town councillor, Paul Gittins.

They believe the potentially “lifesaving” booth might be needed in an emergency as mobile phone reception is poor in the area.

Phone boxes in Morton Road and Hurcott Road, in Kidderminster, Cleobury Road, Rock, Park Close, Kinlet and Hornbeam Close, Bewdley, are also due to be removed. Each box has a removal notice displayed inside.

Mr Gittins said the majority of the signatures were from residents who lived in the area, which is set in a steep-sided river valley. Several ramblers have also signed it.

He added: “There are about 120 houses in Northwood Lane. A lot of them are timber so there is a high risk of fire.”

The petition to keep the telephone box is supported by the town council and is set to be presented to the district council’s planning, health and environment department today.