Fight to save 'vital link' phone boxes (From Barry And District News)

Fight to save 'vital link' phone boxes

COLCOT residents are fighting to save two public phone boxes in their community.

The two boxes, one in Meggit Road and the other in Dryden Terrace, are under threat in the BT drive to remove under-used units around the country, including 14 in the Vale.

Now Labour councillors Rob Curtis, Margaret Wilkinson and Keith Lewis are backing calls from Vale of Glamorgan MP John Smith to stop these two essential pay phones from being axed.

Vale Cllr Rob Curtis said: "The phone boxes in both locations are vital to the local residents living in the immediate vicinity.

"Both are situated close to children's play areas. Should an accident happen, the proximity of these telephones would slash critical minutes off the time it would take the emergency services to be called and arrive at the scene.

"Added to that, many people in the neighbourhood do not own cars or have private landlines. The public telephones are a means of staying in touch and are needed."

Barry town councillor Keith Lewis added: "We fully back our MP John Smith in his campaign to stop these phone boxes from being removed. "Now we need local residents to write to BT and express their concerns and objections to this plan."

Cllr Curtis added: "The phones are housed in the modern boxes, with the large glass panels and glass door. But they are always kept in a good condition, with very minimal vandalism. There are homes all around them and they are looked after because people appreciate them being here. "I will be contacting the Colcot Residents' Board very soon and asking for its support, as well as visiting houses and asking the community to get behind this campaign."

The consultation period for these proposals has run out, but if you would like your opinions known, contact the chief planning officer of the Vale of Glamorgan Council.