LOCAL POLITICIANS STEP UP CAMPAIGN TO SAVE RURAL TELEPHONE BOXES

5.27.27pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 18th Jun 2008

Local MP Michael Moore and his Liberal Democrat Council colleagues are stepping up their campaign to save rural telephone boxes by calling on residents in the villages affected to voice their opposition to BT's plans.

Last month the telecommunications company announced that they wish to reduce the number of phone boxes in the UK. BT is currently consulting with Scottish Borders Council over the future of up to 40 boxes in the Borders, which is almost 25% of the total number of payphones in the region.

Many of these phone boxes are in the centre of villages and their removal would leave local residents and visitors without access to a payphone in an emergency. Villages that will lose their payphone under BT's plans include Coldingham, Whitsome, Edrom, Grantshouse, Longformacus and Foulden.

Mr Moore said:

"I firmly believe that access to a public telephone in rural communities is absolutely essential. In many rural areas mobile phone reception is often patchy, so in an emergency access to a public telephone box could be the difference between life and death.

"I have written to all the community councils to inform them of all the possible closures in their area and have requested their assistance in opposing these closures."

Mr Moore added:

"Over the next few weeks I will also be gathering support from local residents and will be submitting these responses to BT to show them the strength of local opposition to these closures."

To sign up to the campaign to keep payphones open in the Borders, visit www.michaelmoore.org.uk and click on campaigns.