MP urges Community Councils to exercise the payphone veto

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 14th Oct 2004

Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross MP, John Thurso, has written again to all community councils advising them that under OFCOM regulations they have a statutory right to object to BT proposals to close public payphones in their area.

The information which had not been made clear by BT, came from House of Commons Library research. The relevant paragraph states: "The USP shall not bring its proposal into effect if it has received any written objection to the proposal by any of the bodies listed in paragraph 2.3 (in Scotland the local community council) within the period ending 42 days after the day on which notice was given. Any written objection given must state that it is an objection to the proposal and must provide reasons for the objection."

John Thurso said:

"There are a number of payphones which BT have indicated they wish to remove in remote rural locations which provide a critical service. In many parts of the Far North there is no mobile phone reception and these payphones provide a lifeline, not only for the community but also for travellers who find themselves stranded.

"I have already passed on comments received from community councils to BT, with a request that they be treated as formal objections. However I have written again to community councils to ensure that they understand their statutory rights, so if they wish they can exercise them."